Newest Saxophone Patent - High G Key (2002)

[Gandalfe]

U.S. Patent 6,476,302 (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/search-bool.html&r=48&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=ptxt&s1=saxophon e&OS=saxophone&RS=saxophone)

"A saxophone has a main body, a neck, a treble connection set, a connection rod, and a link set. The main body has a high G hole and a high F sharp hole. A high G button and a high G cover are connected by the connection rod. The neck has a treble hole. A treble cover is disposed on the neck. A helical tube is connected to the treble cover to surround the neck. A treble button is disposed on a lower end of the treble connection set. The treble button has a groove. A high F sharp button and a high F sharp cover are connected by the link set."

Here's a picture borrowed from our own Dave Kessler's site:

[GenericGuy]

Ummm... My ser. III soprano was made in the 90's and has this feature. I think prior art would win in any court case on this matter. Reminds me of a story about a man in Austrailia who wanted to prove their patent office was just approving almost anything... so he patented the wheel.

[Kritavi]

It may be that a different design to accomplish the same function warrents a unique patent.

[Super 20 Player]

For some reason, the previous link to the Patent Office didn't work for me. If it doesn't for you, click here (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,476,302.WKU.&OS=PN/6,476,302&RS=PN/6,476,302).

.

[Pete]

It may be that a different design to accomplish the same function warrents a unique patent.
Yep. Altissimo G has been around since the Conn-O-Sax in the late-1920's, not counting earlier prototypes. What's patented is this dude's altissimo G key design, not the altissimo G itself.

If you look at the pictures in the patent, you'll see that it's significantly different than the design pictured on the horn from Kessler.

[DaveKessler]

Basically in laymans terms, this "patented G key" is similar to how a 3rd octave key works on an oboe. Here is a link to their diagram:

http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=06476302&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fn ph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DP ALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%2Fnetahtml%2Fsrchnum.htm%25 26r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3D6,476,302.WK U.%2526OS%3DPN%2F6,476,302%2526RS%3DPN%2F6,476,302&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=EE345B215017

[baritone]

Ummm... My ser. III soprano was made in the 90's and has this feature. I think prior art would win in any court case on this matter. Reminds me of a story about a man in Austrailia who wanted to prove their patent office was just approving almost anything... so he patented the wheel.

and what happen to other wheel users?!:shock: :shock: