JP7632879B2 - Sound module - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sound module that produces sounds to enjoy rhythm, melody, and even harmony, and more specifically, to a small, simple castanet-like sound module that even small children can play.

There are two types of percussion instruments: membranophones, which make sound by vibrating a stretched membrane like a drum, and idiophones, which do not use a membrane and make sound by vibrating the instrument itself. Idiophones are among the oldest musical instruments in human history.

There are two types of idiophones: those that produce sound by striking them with mallets or with the hands, such as xylophones, metallophones, mokugyo (wood blocks), and slit drums; and those that produce sound by striking them together, such as castanets, naruko, cymbals, and claves (interpercussive idiophones).

There are also types of instruments that produce sounds with a sense of pitch (such as xylophones, metallophones, slit drums and tubular bells) and types that do not produce sounds with a sense of pitch (such as castanets, clappers, cymbals and agogos).
All idiophones that have a sense of pitch are the type that are struck with a drumstick, and idiophones that produce sound by striking each other do not have a sense of pitch.

Didiophones, like the xylophone, produce sounds by striking them with mallets, and the pitch can be adjusted by changing the size of the sounding bodies. This means that multiple sounding bodies of different pitches, or different sizes, can be lined up in a set to create a scale, and melodies, chords, and rhythms can all be played. However, they cannot be made small enough to fit in a child's hand.

On the other hand, educational castanets, which are also used for educating children, are simple percussion instruments that consist of two planks 5 to 8 cm in diameter with a recess on the inside like a seashell, connected together with a rubber cord, and are struck from the outside with the hand or fingers to produce sound.

Educational castanets naturally return to their original open position due to the force of the elastic cords once they have been struck, making them easy for even children to use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and widely used as an instrument for enjoying rhythm.

Castanets do not require sticks (mallets) and can be made small enough to fit in a child's hand, but although they can play rhythm, they have no sense of pitch, so they cannot play melodies, chords, or accompaniment (harmonies, chords).
Therefore, it can be said that there are no strike-type idiophonic percussion instruments that have a sense of pitch and are small enough to fit in the palm of a child's hand.

In response to this, it has been proposed to change the tone of a striking-type percussion instrument. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 each propose a Naruko in which the board member is specially designed to change the tone.
Moreover, Patent Document 4 proposes a castanet that is designed to change the volume.
Furthermore, Patent Document 5 proposes a megaphone in which the shape of the sound generating body is improved to improve the resonance of the impact sound.
Furthermore, Patent Document 6 proposes a cheering percussion instrument that resonates with air columns at specific frequencies.

Utility Model No. 3120446 Utility Model No. 3137326 Utility Model No. 3212449 Utility Model No. 3172564 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-244488 JP 2015-70986 A

The above conventional percussion instruments have a problem that they cannot produce a pitched sound when they are small enough to fit in the palm of a child's hand. This is particularly difficult in the relatively low range of 2000 Hz or less. In addition, to produce a scale for one octave, sounds with a difference in frequency of twice as much and a half are required, but since they cannot produce low sounds with a pitched sound, they have a problem that they cannot produce a scale. In addition, since they cannot produce a scale, they have a problem that they cannot play melodies, chords, or accompaniments.
In addition, since there are no small-sized, palm-sized, pitch-sensitive percussion instruments that can be played in concert with other instruments, there is a problem that, although rhythm education is possible for young children, education in melody, chords, and chord progressions is not possible. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult for adults, as well as children, to learn melodic instruments such as the piano or guitar to play melodies, chords, and chord progressions.

The present invention aims to solve the above problems and provide a sound module that is small enough to fit in the palm of a child's hand, yet has a sense of pitch and can produce a relatively low-frequency (around 1000 Hz) sound.

In order to achieve the above object, the sound generating module of the present invention comprises:
A sound-producing module having at least two mating members that produce sound by being mated with each other,
The at least two mating members have a pair of mating surfaces that are mated to each other and have a typical dimension of 20 mm to 100 mm;
The pair of mating surfaces includes a pair of abutting portions that abut against each other when the mating surfaces are in a mated state, and a pair of non-abutting portions that define a gap therebetween that communicates with the outside when the mating surfaces are in a mated state,
At least one of the mating surfaces has a recess whose at least a part of its area is covered by the non-contact portion of the other mating surface in the mated state, and the recess is open in a non-matted state in which the mating surfaces are not mated,
The average depth of the recess is greater than 20% of the equivalent diameter of the mating surface.
The characteristic dimension here refers to the longest outer dimension of each of the two mating members that are mated with each other.

The sound generator module of the present invention is also characterized in that the sound contains Helmholtz resonance, the frequency spectrum of the sound has a single main peak, and the volume dB of all sub-peaks that are in a frequency range more than 500 Hz away from the main peak and are in a dissonant relationship with the main peak are 3 dB or more lower than the volume dB of the main peak.

The sound generator module of the present invention is characterized in that it has at least two pairs of striking surfaces, and the sounds produced by the at least two pairs are of different pitches and form a chord.

As described above, the sound-producing module of the present invention has a typical dimension of 20 mm to 100 mm, and the average depth of the recess is deeper than 20% of the equivalent diameter of the striking surface, so that it has the effect of being small enough to fit in the palm of a child's hand, yet capable of producing a lower-pitched sound with a sense of pitch compared to conventional castanets.

In addition, the sound emitted by the sound generator module of the present invention includes Helmholtz resonance, and the volume dB of the sub-peak that is in a dissonant relationship with the main peak of the frequency spectrum is 3 dB or more lower than the volume dB of the main peak, which has the effect of producing a high-pitched sound with less noise.

In addition, the sound module of the present invention has at least two pairs of striking surfaces that produce sounds of different pitches when struck together, so that multiple sounds, i.e. chords, can be obtained by simply striking one sound module (chord module).

In addition, by combining multiple sound generating modules of the present invention, each of which produces a single note with a different pitch, a sound generating set can be constructed that can produce a scale like a xylophone or keyboard instrument, which has the effect of making it possible to play melodies even though it is a simple, clatter-type, body-sounding percussion instrument like a castanet.

Furthermore, by preparing multiple chord modules of the present invention that produce different chords, chord progressions and accompaniments can be played. In particular, when playing a chord progression using multiple chord modules, it is only necessary to play the same chord module for one measure, which has the effect of making the performance significantly less difficult than melody performance. Therefore, even people who have given up on playing music because of the difficulty of playing melodies can easily enjoy playing music.

Furthermore, because it provides a small, palm-sized, percussion instrument that can be played with pitch, it has the added benefit of being able to teach young children not only rhythm but also melody, chords, and chord progressions in their music education.

Furthermore, it allows people to experience new realizations and surprises that a percussion instrument with a simple structure like the castanet has resonance characteristics like a wind instrument, and has the effect of making people think in a fun way about what a musical instrument is. Also, the invention of a chord percussion instrument that cannot play melodies but can play chord progressions has a philosophical effect of questioning the assumption in Western music education that melody is primary and chords and rhythm are secondary.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a sound generating module according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sound generating module showing a first embodiment of the present invention; Schematic diagram of the Helmholtz resonance model Relationship between sound frequency generated by the sound generator module of the present invention and total volume of recesses An example of the frequency spectrum generated by the sound generating module of the present invention FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a sound generating module showing a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a sound generating module according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of how pitch is changed in the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a sound generating module showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 10 is a side view of a sound generating module showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a sound generating module showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a sound generating module according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a sound generating body set showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a sound generator module and a sound generator set according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First embodiment]

A sound generator module 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figure 1, the sound generator module 1 comprises hemispherical members (meeting members) 2a and 2b that produce sound when they are struck together. Figure 1 is an external perspective view of the sound generator module 1 in a state in which the mating members 2a and 2b are not mated (hereinafter referred to as the "non-meeting state"). The mating members 2a and 2b have mating surfaces 3a and 3b that face each other, and are arranged so that the mating surfaces 3a and 3b face each other.

The mating surfaces 3a and 3b refer to the entire parts that, when the mating members 2a and 2b strike each other, 1) are close to each other in the striking direction until the moment of striking, 2) one mating surface covers the other mating surface while they are in the mating state (hereinafter referred to as the "matting state"), and 3) move away from each other in the opposite direction after striking. In addition, in the mating state, one mating surface does not necessarily have to completely cover the other mating surface, but it must cover it at least partially. If they do not cover it at least partially, Helmholtz resonance, which will be described below, will not occur. In this embodiment, the mating surfaces 3a and 3b are each formed with a hemispherical recess 6a and 6b.

The mating members 2a, 2b are movably connected to each other at a connecting portion 7 by a connecting means (not shown) such as a rubber band.
Further, the mating surface 3b is formed with a protrusion 4. In this embodiment, the protrusion 4 is located on the opposite side to the connecting portion 7 in the radial direction of the mating member 2b.

2 shows a cross-sectional view of the mating members 2a, 2b in the mated state. The mating surfaces 3a, 3b have a pair of abutting portions 4a, 4b that abut against each other in the mated state, and a pair of non-abutting portions 5a, 5b that define a gap between them in the mated state, and the recesses 6a, 6b communicate with the outside through the gap in the mated state. In this embodiment, the mating surface 3a is made up of the abutting portion 4a and the non-abutting portion 5a, and the non-abutting portion 5a also includes the bottom surface of the recess 6a. Similarly, the mating surface 3b is made up of the abutting portion 4b and the non-abutting portion 5b, and the non-abutting portion 5b also includes the bottom surface of the recess 6b.
Further, the recesses 6a, 6b are covered by the non-contact portions 5b, 5a in the mating state, and are open in the non-matting state.

A user can generate sound by placing the sound module 1 thus configured in one hand and striking the striking member 2a with the other hand. Then, when the user removes the hand from the striking member 2a, the sound module 1 is released from the striking state by the connecting means and returns to a state where it can be struck again (non-striking state).

Here, the outer shape of the mating members 2a, 2b shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is hemispherical, but the outer shape of the mating members 2a, 2b is not limited to this and may be any three-dimensional shape, but a shape that is easy for children to hold is preferable. For example, an oval shape, a rectangular parallelepiped with rounded corners, or the shape of an animal character or vehicle can be appropriately adopted.

In this embodiment, the size of the sound generator module 1 is approximately 40 mm in diameter, but this is not limited to this size. It is preferable that the representative dimension is approximately 20 mm to 100 mm, as this is easy for children to hold. More preferably, it is 40 mm to 70 mm.

The size of the semi-spherical recesses 6a, 6b is preferably about 0.3 cc to 60 cc in volume, and more preferably about 1 cc to 40 cc in volume. If the volume of each of the recesses 6a, 6b is less than about 0.3 cc, it becomes difficult to process them, and if it is more than about 60 cc, it becomes difficult to reduce the size of the sound generating module 1, so this is not preferable.
The total volume of the recesses 6a and 6b is preferably about 0.3 cc to 120 cc in consideration of the difficulty of processing and the size. More preferably, it is about 10 cc to 40 cc.

The average depth of each of the recesses 6a, 6b is deeper than 20% of the equivalent diameter of the mating surfaces 3a, 3b having the recesses 6a, 6b. Here, the average depth is the value obtained by dividing the recess volume by the recess inlet area. The equivalent diameter is a value that expresses the representative length of any mating surface shape as the diameter of a circle, and is calculated by 4 x (area of the mating surface) ÷ (perimeter length of the mating surface).

In this embodiment, the mating surfaces 3a, 3b are circular and the recesses 6a, 6b are hemispherical in shape, so that the equivalent diameter is the mating surface diameter and the average recess depth is 1/3 (about 33%) of the recess entrance circle diameter.
The inventors have found through their research that when the average depth of the recesses 6a, 6b is deeper than 20% of the equivalent diameter of the striking surfaces 3a, 3b, a small size that can fit in a child's hand can be achieved, yet the sound produced by striking the recesses can have an unprecedented low pitch and an improved sense of pitch.

In addition, we have newly discovered that if the recesses 6a, 6b are deep enough, 1) spatial resonance occurs even in idiophones whose bodies vibrate, and 2) the gap that forms between the non-contacting parts 5a, 5b of the mating surfaces 3a, 3b when they are struck together forms a passageway between the recess space and the outside, resulting in 3) substantial Helmholtz resonance occurring overall.

Helmholtz resonance is a phenomenon in which the air inside a container with an opening acts as a spring and resonates, generating sound, as seen in the theoretical model diagrammed in Figure 3. When a thin tube with an opening cross-sectional area S and neck length L extends from a container (hollow) with an internal volume V, the resonant frequency is proportional to the square root of the opening area S divided by the neck length L and the internal volume V of the container. Therefore, as the internal volume V increases, the resonant frequency decreases, and as the opening area S increases, the resonant frequency increases. That is,

Resonance frequency ∝ √(S/(L・V))

It is.

When sound-producing modules with different total recess volumes were created, the graph shown in Figure 4 was obtained. Characteristics of the actual Helmholtz resonance similar to those of the theoretical model could be found. In other words, it was found that increasing the total volume of the recesses 6a and 6b lowers the frequency of the sound generated, and conversely, decreasing the total volume of the recesses raises the frequency of the sound generated. In addition, it was found that if the total volume of the opposing recesses 6a and 6b is the same, there is no significant difference in the actual Helmholtz resonance even if the shape of the recesses 6a and 6b is changed, and the pitch of the sound generated is basically roughly the same.

In other words, the volumes and shapes of the recesses 6a and 6b do not necessarily need to be the same, and the volume of one recess may be larger than the volume of the other. In extreme cases, a recess may be installed only on one of the mating surfaces, with no recess on the other. If neither of the mating surfaces has a recess, it becomes difficult to establish Helmholtz resonance, which is undesirable, so at least one of the mating surfaces needs to have a recess.

We also confirmed that the resonant frequency can be changed by changing the height of the protrusions 4. It was found that making the protrusions 4 higher increases the frequency of the sound generated, and conversely, making the protrusions 4 lower decreases the frequency of the sound generated. This can be explained by the Helmholtz resonance model, as it is due to changes in the gap that serves as the communication path between the recess and the outside.

In addition to changing the height of the protrusion 4, the communication path between the recess and the outside can be changed by changing the shape and position of the protrusion 4, the shape of the non-contact parts 5a and 5b, or by drilling holes in the mating members 2a and 2b, thereby changing the pitch of the sound. When the top of the protrusion 4 is rounded as in this embodiment, the sound quality tends to be soft, and conversely, when the top of the protrusion 4 abuts against the mating surface 3a over a relatively large area, the sound quality tends to be hard, so it can be selected appropriately. However, when the protrusion 4 abuts over the entire outer periphery of the mating surface 3a, i.e. when there are no non-contact parts 5a and 5b, Helmholtz resonance is less likely to occur, which is not preferable.

Figure 5 shows an example of the frequency spectrum of a sound that produces a sound with a stronger sense of pitch when the mating members 2a, 2b are struck together. It can be seen that there is a single maximum peak P (main peak, fundamental tone) at approximately 1000 Hz, which corresponds to the pitch of C6, and no significant peaks in other regions. In this way, it has been found that when there is only a single main peak P and few significant sub-peaks (higher-order peaks, harmonics) in the high-pitched range, there is less noise in the sound, and therefore a stronger sense of pitch.

By adjusting the material of the mating members 2a and 2b, the shape and volume of the recesses 6a and 6b, the shape of the non-contacting parts 5a and 5b, the thickness from the inner surface of the recesses 6a and 6b to the outer surface of the sound generating module 1, the shape of the protrusions 4, etc., it is possible to obtain a spectrum like that shown in Figure 5, and to increase the sense of pitch.

If there is a sub-peak other than the main peak P, it is not preferable because the sense of pitch is lost if this sub-peak becomes noise. An example of a sub-peak that does not become noise is a sub-peak that is in a consonant relationship with the main peak P.
Here, when a sound is said to be in a consonant relationship with another sound, it generally means that the intervals are the same, or that the sound is in a harmonic relationship with an even multiple of each of these intervals, such as a perfect octave, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, major third, major sixth, minor seventh, etc. Anything other than that is dissonant.

In instruments such as xylophones, secondary and tertiary peaks are often set as consonant to the main peak P to create a sense of pitch. In the present invention, it is more preferable to set sub-peaks as consonant to the main peak P by adjusting the material and shape of the sound generating module 1 in various ways in order to create a sense of pitch. As for preferable frequencies of sub-peaks, consonant sounds such as an 8th, i.e., an octave, and even multiples thereof, as compared to the main peak P, or the fourth and tenth harmonics often used in marimbas, or the third and seventh harmonics used in xylophones, can be set as sub-peaks.

Furthermore, as a result of examining sub-peaks that are dissonant with the main peak P (hereinafter referred to as "dissonant sub-peaks"), it was found that it is effective for increasing the sense of pitch to not have dissonant sub-peaks whose volume dB difference from the main peak P is less than 3 dB in a frequency region more than 500 Hz away from the main peak P. In other words, it was found that dissonant sub-peaks that exist in a frequency region within 500 Hz from the main peak P are less likely to become noise, and even if there is a dissonant sub-peak in a frequency region more than 500 Hz away from the main peak P, it is preferable that the volume dB of the dissonant sub-peak is 3 dB or more lower than the volume dB of the main peak P (the difference from the volume dB of the main peak P is more than 3 dB), since this allows for a sound with less noise and a higher sense of pitch to be obtained. More preferably, the volume dB of all dissonant sub-peaks present in the frequency range more than 500 Hz away from the main peak P is at least 10 dB lower than the volume dB of the main peak P, and even more preferably, it is at least 20 dB lower than the volume dB of the main peak P.

To improve the sense of pitch, it is better for the main peak P to be sharp. A main peak P with a broad base is undesirable as it increases noise and impairs the sense of pitch. It is preferable for the base width of the main peak P to be 1500 Hz or less, and more preferably 800 Hz or less. The same applies to sub-peaks that are in a consonant relationship with the main peak P.

The material of the mating members 2a, 2b may be any material that produces a stable sound, and can be appropriately selected from wood, bamboo, plastic, metal, stone, etc. In the case of wood, an air-dry specific gravity of 0.2 to 1.2 is preferable. If the air-dry specific gravity is less than 0.2, the sound quality becomes muffled and durability decreases, and the abutment parts 4a, 4b in particular become easily deteriorated, which is not preferable. Furthermore, if the air-dry specific gravity is greater than 1.2, the sound becomes sharp, which is not preferable. More preferably, the air-dry specific gravity is 0.4 to 1.0. Furthermore, multiple materials can be used in appropriate combination. Furthermore, various known painting methods can be used to improve durability and enhance the appearance.

The connecting portion 7 is not limited to rubber cord, and various known connecting means can be used as long as it can be repeatedly joined together. Although it is possible to use ordinary cord that has no elastic properties for the connection, it is preferable to use an elastic connecting means such as rubber cord, because after joining, a restoring force acts and the connection naturally returns to its original, unjoined state, i.e., the unjoined state.

The connecting form does not have to be such that the mating members 2a and 2b are in direct contact with each other. The mating members 2a and 2b may be connected in a non-contact manner using a magnet or the like. Alternatively, the mating members 2a and 2b do not necessarily have to be connected to each other. In this case, for example, the mating members 2a and 2b may be held in the right hand and the left hand, respectively, and then mated.

Alternatively, the striking members 2a and 2b may be fitted to two opposing fingers, such as the thumb and middle finger of one hand, and then struck together. By fitting striking members of different volumes to the four fingers other than the thumb, four different pitches can be produced by changing the finger combination.

Second Embodiment

A sound generator module 101 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 6. In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for components that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
6 shows an external perspective view of the sound generator module 101 in a non-fitted state. The sound generator module 101 is substantially the same as the sound generator module 1 described above, but differs from the sound generator module 1 in that the fitting member 2a is formed with a communication hole 8, and the recess 6a is connected to the outside through the communication hole 8.

In this embodiment, the opening area that is connected to the outside when the instrument is struck is increased by the communication holes 8, so the pitch is higher than when there are no communication holes 8 due to the principle of Helmholtz resonance. By closing and opening the communication holes 8 with your fingers when striking the instrument, it is possible to play sounds of different pitches.

In this embodiment, the communication hole 8 is circular, but is not limited to this, and can be of various shapes and sizes as long as it connects the recess 6a to the outside. Also, in this embodiment, the communication hole 8 is only one in the mating member 2a, but is not limited to this, and a communication hole may be provided in the mating member 2b as well, and multiple communication holes of any size and shape may be provided in any location of the mating members 2a and 2b.

[Third embodiment]

The sound module 102 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 shows an external perspective view of the sound module 102 in a non-striking state. The sound module 102 has mating members 2a and 2b with a length of about 100 mm, a width of about 25 mm, and a thickness of about 20 mm. These mating members 2a and 2b are connected to each other at the connecting portion 7 with a rubber band (not shown). A plurality of protrusions 41 are formed at intervals on the mating surface 3a of the mating member 2b. The plurality of protrusions 41 each have a different height, and in the example of Fig. 7, the height is set to decrease as it approaches the connecting portion 7. In addition, recesses 6a and 6b are formed on the mating surfaces 3a and 3b of the mating members 2a and 2b, respectively, which is the same as in the first embodiment.

The mating members 2a and 2b in this embodiment are long and long, and connected with a rubber band, so as shown in Figure 8, when twisted slightly, they form an angle, allowing them to strike each other in a twisted manner. In addition, since multiple protrusions 41 of different heights are formed, the protrusions 41 at the appropriate angle form the abutment part, allowing them to strike each other even when twisted. In other words, the protrusions 41 that abut against the mating surface 3a are determined according to the twist. The height and arrangement of the protrusions 41 are set so that when the twist angle is zero, the central protrusion 41 farthest from the connecting part 7 abuts against the mating surface 3a, and when the twist angle is increased, the protrusions 41 closer to the connecting part 7 abut in sequence.

We found that when the mating members 2a and 2b are struck together in this misaligned state, the pitch of the sound changes according to the angle of the misalignment. This can be explained using the Helmholtz resonance model: when the twist angle is zero, the opening area is at its smallest when they strike each other, resulting in the lowest pitch, and as the twist angle increases, the opening area becomes larger, resulting in a higher pitch.

In this embodiment, the protrusions 41 are installed on only one side of the striking surface 3b (the right side in FIG. 8), and not on the other side (the left side in FIG. 8). The protrusions 41 may be installed on both sides, but if there is only a protrusion 41 on one side, the sound generated when twisting to the side without the protrusion 41 and striking the parts without the protrusion 41 together will have a hard sound quality like a clapper, which is different from when the protrusions 41 come into contact, so you can enjoy two different sound qualities with one sound module 102.

In this embodiment, the shape of the mating members 2a and 2b is vertically long, but this is not limited to this, and various shapes can be used as long as the position of the abutment part can be changed by shifting them. Furthermore, the height and arrangement of the protrusions 41 are also not limited to this, and various heights and arrangements can be appropriately selected.
In the above embodiment, the entire recess is covered by the non-contact portion in the mating state, but the recess does not necessarily have to be entirely covered by the non-contact portion in the mating state. It is sufficient that at least a portion of the recess is covered by the non-contact portion in the mating state, as shown in Figures 8(b) to 8(d).

[Fourth embodiment]

A sound generator module 103 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 9 to 11. Figure 9 shows an external perspective view of the sound generator module 103 in a non-striking state. Figure 10 shows a side view of the sound generator module 103 in a non-striking state. Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the sound generator module 103 in a non-striking state.

As shown in Figure 9, the sound module 103 is a spherical sound module with an overall outer diameter of approximately 60 mm, obtained by stacking the mating members 21a to 21d. Also, as shown in Figure 10, the mating member 21a has mating surface 31a, the mating member 21b has mating surfaces 31b and 31c, the mating surface 21c has mating surfaces 31d and 31e, and the mating member 21d has mating surface 31f. The mating members 21a to 21d are assembled so that the mating surfaces 31a and 31b face each other, the mating surfaces 31c and 31d face each other, and the mating surfaces 31e and 31f face each other.

Protrusions 41a, 41b, and 41c are formed on mating surfaces 31b, 31d, and 31f, respectively. In addition, mating members 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are connected at connecting portions 71a, 71b, and 71c with rubber bands (not shown).

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 11, recesses 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 61e, and 61f are formed on mating surfaces 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, and 31f, respectively. The volumes formed by the pair of recesses 61a and 61b, the pair of recesses 61c and 61d, and the pair of recesses 61e and 61f are different from each other, so each pair generates a Helmholtz resonance of a different pitch. Each pair of recesses is similar to that of the first embodiment described above, so a description thereof will be omitted.

In the sound generator module 103 of this embodiment, the shape and dimensions are set so that the total volume formed by the pair of recesses 61c and 61d is the largest, the next largest is the total volume formed by the pair of recesses 61e and 61f, and the smallest is the total volume formed by the pair of recesses 61a and 61b. Therefore, according to the principle of Helmholtz resonance, the pitch generated by the pair of recesses 61c and 61d is the lowest, the next highest is the pitch generated by the pair of recesses 61e and 61f, and the highest is the pitch generated by the pair of recesses 61a and 61b.

The sound generator module 103 of this embodiment can produce multiple sounds with simple movements like playing a castanet, and can produce chords by appropriately adjusting the shapes of the recesses 61a to 61f. In this embodiment, the pitches are approximately 1400 Hz, approximately 1760 Hz, and approximately 2100 Hz from the lowest, forming the chords F6 (Fa), A6 (La), and C7 (Do).

If multiple sound generating modules 103 that produce different chords are prepared, the corresponding sound generating modules 103 can be played in accordance with the chord progression of the song, allowing the enjoyment of playing like an accompaniment. When playing chords as accompaniment, for example, there are far fewer chord changes within one measure compared to a melody, making it easier for even small children who have difficulty playing melodies to play.

In this embodiment, the outer shape is a sphere with a diameter of approximately 60 mm, but this size is suitable for small children to hold in the palm of their hands when playing. However, the size and shape are not limited to this, and any outer shape and size can be used as long as the recesses 61a to 61f can be set. For example, a sphere with a diameter of approximately 72 mm can produce chords of approximately 1050 Hz, approximately 1320 Hz, and approximately 1570 Hz, i.e., C6 (do), E6 (mi), and G6 (sol).

In addition, in the sound generating module 103 of this embodiment, the number of mating members is four, but the number of mating members can be changed to appropriately change the number of sounds produced at different pitches. Also, since the external shape does not easily affect the pitch of the sound, any three-dimensional shape can be selected. For example, character shapes such as animals that children like can be used.

In this embodiment, the striking members 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are connected at the connecting parts 71a, 71b, and 71c with rubber bands (not shown), so that the striking members 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d can be struck simultaneously or can be made to sound in a scattered manner (arpeggio). In an actual performance, one sound generating module 103 can alternately produce tight sounds and scattered sounds that are sounded simultaneously, further emphasizing the sense of rhythm and beat.

[Fifth embodiment]

A sound generator module 104 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the appearance of the sound generator module 104 in a non-striking state. The sound generator module 104 is composed of short cylindrical fitting members 21a to 21e.
The striking member 21a can be attached to the thumb by a connecting portion 71a. Similarly, the striking members 21b to 21e can be attached to the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger by connecting portions (not shown), respectively.
As with the sound generating module 1 described above, the contact members 21a to 21e have contact surfaces 31a to 31e, respectively, and recesses are provided on the contact surfaces 31a to 31e. The contact surface 31a of the contact member 21a attached to the thumb can be brought into contact with the contact surfaces 31b to 31e of the contact members 21b to 21e attached to the other fingers. A protrusion 41 is formed on the contact surface 31a.

In this embodiment, the contact surfaces 31b to 31e are provided with recesses of different volumes, so that the total volume of the recesses can be changed by changing the combination such as contact members 21a and 21b, contact members 21a and 21c, contact members 21a and 21d, and contact members 21a and 21e, and four different pitches can be obtained. Therefore, eight sounds can be produced with both hands, so a scale of one octave can be produced, for example, Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Si, Do.

Sixth embodiment

A sound generating body set 1001 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 13 shows an external perspective view of the sound generating body set 1001 in a non-striking state. The sound generating body set 1001 is composed of eight sound generating body modules 105a to 105h. Although the sound generating body modules 105a to 105h are each individual, independent modules, they are mounted on a base (not shown) in an acoustically independent manner so that they do not become disjointed.

Each of the sound generator modules 105a to 105h has substantially the same configuration as the sound generator module 1 described above.

The sound generating body modules 105a to 105h are sound generating body modules that produce different pitches. That is, the recessed pair of each sound generating body module 105a to 105h has a different total volume. In the sound generating body set 1001 of this embodiment, the total volume of the recessed pair becomes smaller in the order of sound generating body modules 105a to 105h, and therefore the pitch becomes higher in the order of sound generating body modules 105a to 105h. Using this, the total volume of the recessed pair can be adjusted to configure the sound generating body set 1001 to have a scale. For example, in the commonly used C major (G major) octo-scale, do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, and do can be assigned to the sound generating body modules 105a to 105h, respectively. By appropriately selecting the number of sound generating body modules and the pitch, various other arbitrary scales can be configured.

Since it is structured into a scale, melodies can be played with simple movements like playing castanets. Alternatively, multiple sound modules can be played at the same time to produce chords. Because no mallets are used like in a xylophone, there is greater freedom in the number of sounds that can be played simultaneously and the timing. Each sound module can be made small enough to fit in the palm of a child's hand, so if the width is made to be about 25 mm, for example, each sound module can be played with one finger, like a keyboard instrument. In addition to playing melodies, it can also be used as a percussion instrument to keep rhythm with quick arpeggios.

As described above, in this embodiment, the sound generator modules 105a to 105h are acoustically independent. Acoustically independent means that the vibrations and resonances of the sound generator modules 105a to 105h do not interfere with each other. Methods for acoustically isolating the sound generator modules 105a to 105h, such as providing gaps between the sound generator modules 105a to 105h, or separating the sound generator modules 105a to 105h or the bases with cushioning material such as sponge, or other known methods can be used.
If the modules are acoustically independent, they may be linked together so that multiple sounds are generated simultaneously in one action. For example, to produce a C-Mi-So triad, three corresponding sound modules may be linked together horizontally.

1, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105a to 105h Sounding body module 1001 Sounding body set 2a, 2b, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e Meeting members 3a, 3b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f Meeting surfaces 4, 41, 41a, 41b, 41c Protrusions 4a, 4b Contact parts 5a, 5b Non-contact parts 6a, 6b, 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 61e, 61f Recesses 7, 71a, 71b, 71c Connection part 8 Communication hole P Main peak

Claims (2)

A sound-producing module having at least three mating members that produce sound by being mated with each other,
The at least three mating members each have a typical dimension of 20 mm to 100 mm and at least two pairs of mating surfaces that are mated with each other;
Each pair of the mating surfaces has a pair of abutting portions that abut against each other when the mating surfaces are in a mated state, and a pair of non-abutting portions that define a gap therebetween that communicates with the outside when the mating surfaces are in a mated state,
In each pair of the mating surfaces, at least one of the mating surfaces has a recess whose at least a part of its area is covered by the non-contact portion of the other mating surface in the mated state,
Each pair of the mating surfaces returns to a non-meeting state in which the mating surfaces are not mated after the mating surfaces of the pair are mated,
The recess is open when the mating surfaces are not mated,
At least one of the at least three mating members has two mating surfaces,
The total volume of the recesses provided on the mating surfaces of the pair is different for each pair of the mating surfaces.
A sound generating module characterized by:
2. The sound generating module according to claim 1, wherein an average depth of said recess provided in at least one of said mating surfaces is deeper than 20% of an equivalent diameter of said mating surface.

Images