US Patent 7982112 Ligature for woodwind instruments

A ligature is provided for use in a mouthpiece system for attaching a reed to a mouthpiece of a woodwind musical instrument. The ligature is constructed from a single layer of flexible strap, having two ends to which rigid bars are fixedly secured. The ends of the straps and rigid bars are brought together to form a loop that is placed over the mouthpiece and reed. A threaded closure mechanism is used to tighten the ligature around the mouthpiece. The ends of the strap are crimped into slots in the rigid bars to secure the flexible strap to the rigid bars. Slots or slits run along substantially the entire length of the flexible strap. Removable masses are attached to the ligature in contact with the rigid bars.