United States Patent (19) 11 3,937,116

Ramirez (45) Feb. 10, 1976

54 TENOR TROMBONE CONSTRUCTION Primary Examiner-John F. Gonzales
75 Inventor: Lawrence Ramirez, Kenosha, Wis. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Olson, Trexler, Wolters,
Bushnell & Fosse, Ltd.
73) Assignee: G. Leblanc Corporation, Kenosha,
Wis. 57 ABSTRACT
22 Filed: Oct. 21, 1974 The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is
(21) Appl. No.: 516,530 directed to a novel tenor trombone construction. The
tenor trombone is capable of performing as a standard
slide trombone and/or as a piston valve trombone. The
52 U.S. C. .................................................. 841395 trombone can be operated in these two modes simul
(51 Int. Cl.'............................................ G10D 7/10 taneously or individually. The piston valves can be
58) Field of Search......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84/395, 396 manipulated by the left hand of the user while the
slide member, can be manipulated by the right hand,
56) References Cited without requiring the player to remove either hand
UNITED STATES PATENTS from its normal playing position, or from interrupting
932,704 8/1909 Holton.................................. 841395 his hold on the instrument while playing. The piston
2,288,743 7/1942 Reed..................................... 841395 valves are so positioned as to enable the user to oper
2,446,378 8/1948 Maxwell............................ 841395 X ate the piston valves with the right hand. Holder
OTHER PUBLICATIONS means is provided for the slide member assembly to
“Really Doubling in Brass,” In Popular Science, May, hold it in place when the piston valves are being ma
1946, p. 81.
nipulated by the right hand.
4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
 U.S. Patent Feb. 10, 1976 Sheet 1 of 2 3,937,116

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FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the trombone of
TENOR TROMBONE CONSTRUCTION FIG. 1 illustrating the manipulation of both the piston
valves and the slide member by hands shown in phan
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION tom line;
This invention relates generally to musical instru 5 FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the trombone shown
ments, and more particularly to a novel trombone con in FIG. 1 illustrating the opposite side thereof,
struction. . .. . FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating
Heretofore, trombones have been provided with slide retainer means for holding the slide member from piv
members for producing a plurality of different sounds. oting while the piston valves are being manipulated
The slide member is so designed as to provide the tromi O with the right hand; and
bone with seven full positions or half-steps. Some prior FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end view of the mouthpiece
art trombones provide an extended musical range by receiving portion being held in place by the holding
the use of rotary valve devices which change the effec member.
tive length of the musical chamber. These trombones, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED
being commonly referred to as bass trombones. The 5 . . . EMBODIMENT
disadvantage of such bass trombones is that while the
musical range is extended it is nevertheless limited. 8 Referring now to the drawings, there is seen a trom
The trombonist in this modern day is living in a time bone constructed in accordance with the principles of
of new and adventurous sounds. This trend brings a 20 this invention and designated generally by reference
sense of handicap to the person playing a standard slide numeral 10. The trombone 10 is formed of a plurality
trombone, a standard valve trombone, or a bass trom of tubular metal members secured together in a manner
bone because of the limited range that prior art trom well-known in the art. The tubular metal members are
bones provide. One problem that has risen with the provided with a mouthpiece receiving end portion 12 at
coming of modern music is that of expressing one's one end and a soundemanating bell portion 14 at the
spontaneous feelings while performing." This is very 25 other end. A pair of parallel spaced apart tube mem
difficult to accomplish with prior art. trombones. bers 16 and 18 is secured to the trombone in a conven
tional and well-known manner. For example, the tubu
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION lar member 18 is removably threadedly secured to the
Accordingly, a new and novel trombone construction 30 trombone body by a lock nut or threaded collar 19.
is hereby provided which includes a slide for providing This enables the tubular member 16 to pivot about the
seven full positions or half-steps and further includes axis of the tubular member 18 to position the mouth
three uniformly spaced apart parallel piston valves. The piece at a desired location.
piston valves are such that the first piston provides a A slide member 20 is provided with a U-shaped end
whole tone, the second piston provides a half tone, and portion 21 leading into a pair of straight spaced apart,
the third piston provides a whole tone and a half. Thus, 35 parallel portions 22 and 23. The spaced apart portions
a complete chromatic scale can be played on either the 22 and 23 are maintained in a substantially fixed paral
slide section of the trombone or on the valve section. lel position relative to one another by means of a brace
This instrument can be readily operated by a player 24, which also serves as a holder for manipulating the
without requiring that he remove either hand from the 40 slide element. The slide 20 is manipulated back and
normal playing position on the instrument. . . forth as indicated by the double arrowed line 26 for
With the trombone of this invention, many different producing a multitude of different musical notes.
kinds of musical ornaments can be obtained with each The sound-emanating bell portion 14 leads into a
of the piston valves, while still other kinds of effects can tapered tubular metal member 28 which, in turn, passes
be obtained and expressed by the slide member. through a U-shaped end portion 28a and therefrom
The bottom register of the musical instrument of this 45 into a tubular portion 29 of substantially uniform diam
invention can be substantially extended by utilizing the eter throughout its length.
piston valves and the slide member simultaneously. In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the
This feature not only fills in the gap that is found in all tubular section 29 is secured to a first piston valve
conventional valve and slide tenor trombones from 50 assembly 30. Second and third piston valve assemblies
between low E natural and pedal tone B flat concert, 31 and 32, respectively, are provided in parallel spaced
but also provides musical effects that heretofore have relation with the valve 30. Most advantageously, the
not been obtainable with either the slide or the piston piston valve assemblies 30, 31 and 32 are positioned
valve types of trombones. The novel construction of adjacent the mouthpiece receiving end portion 12 of
the trombone disclosed herein enables the user to ma 55 the trombone to enable the user thereof to manipulate
nipulate the piston valves with either the right hand or the piston valves in a trumpetlike fashion with either
the left hand in a trumpet-like fashion to obtain many the left hand or the right hand,
new musical effects, Interconnecting tubings 36 and 37 are provided be
Many other objects, features and advantages of this tween the various ports of the piston valve assemblies
invention will be more fully realized and understood. 60 to enable the user to obtain the various notes. For
from the following detailed description when taken in example, the first piston valve, when depressed, will
conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein produce a whole tone, the second piston valve will
like reference numerals throughout the various views produce a half tone, and the third piston valve will
of the drawings are intended to designate similar ele produce a whole tone and a half. Therefore, a complete
ments and components. chromatic scale can be played on either the slide mem
65 ber 20 or by the piston valves 30, 31 and 32.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A tubular support member 38 is made sufficiently
FIG. 1 is a side view of a trombone constructed in large and positioned next to the piston valves to facili
accordance with the principles of this invention; tate holding of the trombone. Therefore, the user of the
 3,937, 16
3 4
trombone can support it entirely by the left hand while second spaced apart tubes, said first tube being held in
manipulating the piston valves with the fingers of the a pivotal relation to the trombone and said second tube
left hand. The tubular member 38 is in communication readily pivoted about an axis of said first tube, said
with the third piston valve 32 by means of an elbow second tube having a terminating end extending in a
passage member 39. direction opposite that of said mouthpiece receiving
A brace 40 is secured between the end of the tubular end portion and in axial alignment therewith, a slide
section 29 and the gradually tapering portion 28 to member having a U-shaped end portion leading into a
provide sufficient strength for the trombone and to pair of straight parallel spaced apart portions having
insure proper spacing for the user's hand, as indicated open ends telescoping with the terminating ends of said
in phantom line and designated by reference numeral O
pair of spaced apart tube members to slide therealong
41. A finger grip 43 is provided adjacent the piston for the playing of different musical notes, a plurality of
valves. The finger grip 43 is secured to the end of a rod uniformly spaced apart, parallel piston valves posi
44 which passes through a boss member 46 and locks in tioned in direct communication with said tubular mem
place by a hand thread screw 47. Therefore, the finger bers adjacent said mouthpiece receiving end portion to
grip 43 can be adjusted to suit the player. 5
be manipulated for the playing of different musical
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, notes which can be the same as or different than the
a slide assembly holder 50 is pivotally secured to the musical notes produced by said slide member, and
trombone and selectively engageable with the top por including post means secured to one of said plurality of
tion of the slide assembly comprising tubular members uniformly spaced apart parallel piston valves and ex
16 and 22. The slide holder 50 engages the slide assem 20
tending in a direction of said mouthpiece receiving end
bly near the mouthpiece receiving end portion 12. The portion, holding means secured to said post and
slide holder 50 comprises a U-shaped member 51 hav adapted to engage said mouthpiece receiving end por
ing a boss member 52 pivotally secured to a stem 53. tion for holding the same to prevent pivotal movement
The stem 53 is secured to and extends from the middle of said second tube member about the longitudinal axis
piston valve assembly 31. When the trombone is to be 25
of said first tube member.
played only by means of the piston valves 30, 31 and 32 2. In the trombone as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
the user may desire to lock the slide assembly in a fixed housing means is U-shaped in configuration and pivotal
position relative to the piston valves so that the trom about an axis passing through the plane of the U
bone can be played in the same manner as a trumpet shaped member, thereby enabling the U-shaped mem
with either the left or the right hands. The holder 50 30
therefore can be locked in place by a threaded collar ber to be moved upwardly and downwardly to capture
54. If it is desirable to pivot the mouthpiece receiving and hold the mouthpiece receiving end portion when in
end portion 12 of the trombone about the tubular the up position.
member 18 to displace the mouthpiece from the piston 3. A trombone comprising; tubular members having
valves, the holder 50 is then pivoted in a downward 35 an initial straight portion beginning at a mouthpiece
position, as shown in phantom line of FIG. 4. When the receiving end and terminating in a sound-emanating
holder 50 is in the position shown in phantom line, the bell portion, said tubular members including first and
slide member can be pivoted about the tube 18 so as to second spaced apart tubes, said first tube being held in
displace the mouthpiece 12a away from the piston a pivotal relation to the trombone and said second tube
valves to provide the user with substantial freedom of 40 readily pivoted about an axis of said first tube, said
movement. second tube having a terminating end extending in a
what has been described is a unique trombone con direction opposite that of said mouthpiece receiving
struction which is capable of performing both as a end portion and in axial alignment therewith, a slide
standard slide trombone and as a standard piston valve member having a U-shaped end portion leading into a
trombone simultaneously but which obtains musical 45 pair of straight parallel spaced apart portions having
characteristics greater than either. The trombone can open ends telescoping with the terminating ends of said
be readily manipulated by operating the piston mecha pair of spaced apart tube members to slide therealong
nism with the left hand and the slide mechanism with for the playing of different musical notes, a plurality of
the right hand, without requiring that either hand be uniformly spaced apart, parallel piston valves posi
removed from the playing position. Also, the trombone 50 tioned in direct communication with said tubular mem
can have the piston valves manipulated with the right bers adjacent said mouthpiece receiving end portion to
hand while the slide assembly is held in position by a be manipulated for the playing of different musical
holder. By providing a trombone of this construction, notes which can be the same as or different than the
the bottom register of the musical scale is substantially musical notes produced by said slide member, and
extended when utilizing both the piston and the slide 55 means movably supported from at least one of said
mechanisms simultaneously. Accordingly, variations piston valves and selectively engageable with said
and modifications of this invention may be incorpo mouthpiece receiving end portion to prevent pivotal
rated without departing from the spirit and scope as set movement of said second tube member about the longi
forth in the following claims. tudinal axis of said first tube member.
The invention is claimed as follows: 60 4. A trombone as set forth in claim 3 wherein the
1. A trombone comprising; tubular members having movable mounted means comprises a pivotally
an initial straight portion beginning at a mouthpiece mounted fork adapted to embrace said mouthpiece
receiving end and terminating in a sound-emanating receiving end portion.
bell portion, said tubular member including first and ck k k sk. x:
65
 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
Patent No. 3,937,116 Dated FEBRUARY 10, 1976
Inventor(s) LAWRENCE RAMIREZ
It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent
and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 3, line 64, "member" should be --members--

Col. 4, 1ine 27, 'housing" should be --holding--
Col. 4, 1ine 61, 'movable' should be --movably--

eigned and gealed this

eighth Day of June 1976
Attest

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks.
 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
Patent No. 3,937,116 Dated FEBRUARY 10, 1976
Inventor(s) LAWRENCE RAMIREZ
It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent
and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 3, 1ine 64, "member" should be --members--

Col. 4, line 27, 'housing" should be --holding--
Col. 4, 1ine 61, 'movable' should be --movably--

signed and gealed this

eighth Day of June 1976

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL D ANN

At testing Officer Contnissioner of Patents and Trademarks.