IP Library Granted Patent US 12,700,386
Granted Patent B2
US 12,700,386 · App. 18/487,431 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Sound bar and percussion instrument

Inventors: Eri Hirai (Hamamatsu, JP); Kazuki Soga (Hamamatsu, JP); Hisaaki Mukai (Hamamatsu, JP); Junnosuke Kaseda (Hamamatsu, JP); Ichiro Osuga (Hamamatsu, JP); Yuichi Tadano (Hamamatsu, JP); Ayumi Irisa (Hamamatsu, JP)
Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
G10D13/08G10D13/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,700,386
App. No.
18/487,431
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sound bar has a striking surface. The sound bar includes: a surface layer having a first surface constituting at least a part of the striking surface and a second surface opposite across a thickness of the surface layer from the first surface; and a base fixed to the second surface of the surface layer. A cutout surface is provided on a peripheral edge portion of the striking surface. The first surface of the surface layer is smaller than the base in a plan view.

Claims (53)

1 . A sound bar having a striking surface, the sound bar comprising:

a surface layer having a first surface constituting at least a part of the striking surface and a second surface opposite across a thickness of the surface layer from the first surface; and

a base fixed to the second surface of the surface layer,

wherein a cutout surface is provided on a peripheral edge portion of the striking surface, and

wherein the first surface of the surface layer is smaller than the base in a plan view.

2 . The sound bar according to claim 1 ,

wherein the base has a striking portion that is uncovered by the surface layer in the plan view.

3 . The sound bar according to claim 1 ,

wherein the base has an upper surface,

wherein the surface layer is provided on the base such that the second surface of the surface layer faces the upper surface of the base, and

wherein the cutout surface includes a portion of the upper surface of the base, the portion of the upper surface being uncovered by the surface layer.

4 . The sound bar according to claim 1 ,

wherein the surface layer has a third surface between the first surface and the second surface, and

wherein the cutout surface includes the third surface of the surface layer and an exposed surface of the base, the exposed surface being uncovered by the surface layer in the plan view.

5 . The sound bar according to claim 4 ,

wherein the cutout surface has a curved surface, and

wherein cross sections of the third surface of the surface layer and the exposed surface of the base, taken perpendicular to the first surface of the surface layer, are arcuate.

6 . The sound bar according to claim 4 ,

wherein cross sections of the third surface of the surface layer and the exposed surface of the base, taken perpendicular to the first surface of the surface layer, are polygonal.

7 . The sound bar according to claim 2 ,

wherein the cutout surface includes the striking portion.

8 . The sound bar according to claim 1 ,

wherein the base is made of wood.

9 . The sound bar according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an intermediate layer provided between the surface layer and the base such that the base is fixed to the intermediate layer, and the intermediate layer is fixed to the second surface of the surface layer.

10 . The sound bar according to claim 9 ,

wherein each of the surface layer and the intermediate layer contains oriented fibers, and

wherein a fiber direction of the oriented fibers of the intermediate layer is perpendicular to a fiber direction of the oriented fibers of the surface layer in the plan view.

11 . The sound bar according to claim 1 ,

wherein the base includes a fourth surface and a fifth surface opposite across a thickness of the base from the fourth surface,

wherein the fifth surface of the base faces the surface layer, and

wherein the first surface of the surface layer is smaller than the fifth surface of the base in the plan view.

12 . The sound bar according to claim 1 ,

wherein the base comprises a plurality of laminated plates, and a lamination direction of the plurality of laminated plates is perpendicular to a thickness direction of the base.

13 . The sound bar according to claim 1 ,

wherein the base contains oriented fibers, and a direction of the oriented fibers is substantially parallel to a normal direction of the striking surface.

14 . The sound bar according to claim 1 ,

wherein a specific gravity of the surface layer is different from a specific gravity of the base.

15 . A percussion instrument comprising:

a plurality of sound bars, each of the plurality of sound bars comprising:

a surface layer having a first surface constituting at least a part of a striking surface and a second surface opposite across a thickness of the surface layer from the first surface; and

a base fixed to the second surface of the surface layer,

wherein a cutout surface is provided on a peripheral edge portion of the striking surface, and

wherein the first surface of the surface layer is smaller than the base in a plan view,

wherein the striking surface of each of the plurality of sound bars is elongated, and

wherein the surface layers of all of the plurality of sound bars are made of the same material as each other.

16 . A percussion instrument comprising:

a plurality of sound bars, each of the plurality of sound bars comprising:

a surface layer having a first surface constituting at least a part of a striking surface and a second surface opposite across a thickness of the surface layer from the first surface; and

a base fixed to the second surface of the surface layer,

wherein a cutout surface is provided on a peripheral edge portion of the striking surface, and

wherein the first surface of the surface layer is smaller than the base in a plan view,

wherein at least two or more sound bars of the plurality of sound bars differ in a number of layers or materials for corresponding layers from each other.