March 11, 1947. A. M.

TYSON 2,417,277
RESONATOR FOR MUSICAI. INSTRUMENTS
Filed Nov. 17, 1944 2. Sheets-Sheet

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March 11, i947. A. M. TYSON 2,417,277
RESONATOR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
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Patented Mar. 11, 1947
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
2,417,277
RESONATOR FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Archie M. Tyson, Dallas, Tex.
Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,884
3 Claims. (C. 84-189)
1.
This invention relates to a resonator for musical
instruments and While it is designed primarily
for installation in pianos, it is to be understood
that it can be employed to advantage in connec
tion. With any type of stringed instrument.
he invention is designed primarily as an in
proVenent upon the structure disclosed in Patent
2,287,503, issued to me on June 23, 1942.
The invention has for its primary object the
utilization of a vibratory element suspended in
a new and novel manner Whereby the resonance
of the instrument is improved and the period of
vibration prolonged so that the tone produced is
not only more Sustained but also more pleasing
in Sound than generally possible heretofore.
With the foregoing and other objects in view
Which Will appear as the description proceeds,
the invention consists of certain novel details of
Construction and combinations of parts herein
after more fully described and pointed out in the
Clairns, it being understood that changes may be
made in the construction and arrangement of
parts Without departing from the spirit of the
i?ivention as claimed.
In the accompanying drawing the preferred
form of the invention has been shown.
In Said drawing
Figure i is a section through a portion of a
piano showing the present improvements com
gined therewith.
figure 2 is a botton plan view of the resonator.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through a por
tion of a sounding board to which a modified
form of resonator is applied, said resonator being
shown in plan.
Figure 4 is an elevation of a portion of a sound
iing board bridge to which a resonator is applied.
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the resonator
and a portion of the bridge shown in Fig. 4, the
adjacent portion of the Sounding board being in
Section.
Referring to the figures by characters of ref
erence, i designates a portion of a Sounding board
to which a rio 2 is joined in the usual manner.
A Stern 3 abuts at one end against the rib and is
iield firmly thereto by any suitable means, such as
a Screw 4.
A Stanchion of the piano is indicated in part
at 3 and has a block 6 attached to it. This block
is designed to Support the resonator which, as
Shown, comprises a single length of wood reduced
in thickness at an intermediate point to provide
a neck T, an attaching end 8, and an elongated
toilgue S. The end 8 is held rigidly to the block
6 by Screws O or the like so that the resonator
2,417,277
2
thus is held normally in a position substantially
parallel with the sounding board. When in its
normal position, that end of the tongue 9 nearest
the neck is in contact with the stem 3 and is
held tightly thereto by the screw 4 heretofore
mentioned. The other end portion of the tongue
9 carries a weight which can be in the form of
a metal plug seated Within the tongue.
A longitudinal slot 2 is formed in the tongue
10 and suspended within this slot is a coiled spring
f3 one end of which is engaged by the screw 4
While the other end is fastened to the tongue by
a screw 4 or the like. This spring has its con
volutions out of contact with the tongue and con
5 Stitutes the resonant element of the device.
When the resonator is properly installed the
Spring is under tension and the tongue 9 is in
firm contact With the stem 3. Wibration of the
Strings of the instrument results in transmission
20 of the vibration from the sounding board through
the rib. 2 and stem 3 to the tongue 9 with the
result that the tensioned spring is also vibrated
and a resonance created which sustains and
otherwise improves the tone quality of the in
25 strument.
It is important that the spring-carrying mem
ber be fixedly joined to the sounding board so
that it will have no movement at its point of con
nection therewith other than the motion or vi
30 bration transmitted thereto by the stem 3. By
reducing the thickness of the structure to pro
duce the neck 7, the vibration of the tongue 9 and
the Supported Spring is not retarded. Further
more by Supporting the resonator as described, it
exerts no pressure against the sounding board
35 and, therefore, does not tend to dampen the tone
produced.
While the structure thus far described and as
shown in Figures 1 and 2 shows the resonator
40 mounted on a Supporting means separate from
the Sounding board, it is to be understood that it
can be mounted directly on the sounding board as
shown for example in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. By refer
ring to Fig. 3 a block 5 is secured directly to the
45 rib 6 of the sounding board 7. The resonator
8 is Secured to this block in the same manner
as is the One thus far described and it is likewise
provided with an intermediate neck 19, a weight
20, and a spring 2 all positioned and operating
50 aS disclosed in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.
It has also been found in practice that under
Some conditions it may be desirable to mount the
resonator on the bass bridge of the piano. In
Figs. 4 and 5 a portion of the bass bridge has
55 been shown at 22, the same being secured in the

3.
usual manner to a sounding board 23. The reso
nator is attached at One end to this bridge by
means of screws 24 or the like and if desired spac
ing elements 25 may be interposed between the
resonator and the bridge. In other respects the
resonator shown in Fig. 5 is the same as the one
shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the attached end
26 being spaced from a slotted end portion 27
by a neck 28 and a spring 29 being stretched lon
gitudinally of the slot 30, as illustrated in Fig. 4.
A weight 3 is also provided adjacent to the free
end of the resonator.
In practice the resonators shown in Figs. 3, 4
and 5 all act in the same advantageous manner as
do the forms shown in FigS. 1 and 2.
In Figs. 4 and 5 the strings joined to the bass
bridge have been indicated at 32.
What is claimed is:
1. A resonator for the sounding board of a
musical instrument including an elongated ele
ment having a freely supported end, means for
fixedly joining the other end to a sounding
board, an intermediate portion of said element
being reduced in thickness to provide a neck, and
a tensioned coiled spring carried by the free end
portion of the element and having its convolu
tions spaced from said element.
2. A resonator for the sounding board of a
musical instrument including an elongated wi
bratory element having a reduced intermediate
portion, means for fixedly connecting said ele
2,417,277
4.
ment to a sounding board at One side of the
reduced intermediate portion, and a constantly
tensioned coiled spring carried by the other end
portion of said element and positioned with its
5 Convolutions Spaced from the element.
3. A resonator for the sounding board of a
musical instrument including an elongated Wi
bratory element having a reduced intermediate
portion, means for fixedly connecting said ele
O ment to a sounding board at one side of the re
duced intermediate portion, a constantly ten
Sioned coiled spring carried by the other end
portion of Said element and positioned with its
convolutions Spaced from the element, and a
15 Weight carried by the free end portion of the ele
ment.
ARCHIE MI. TYSON.
REFERENCES CITED
20 The following references are of record in the
file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS
Number Name Date
25 1,634,669 Jones --------------- July 5, 1927
1,258,491 Sprinkle ------------ Mar. 5, 1918
563,113 Wollenhaupt ------- June 30, 1896
1,700,395 Yukl --------------- Jan. 29, 1929
685,920 Heck ---------------- Nov. 5, 1901
30 1,588,730 Hessel ------------- June 15, 1926