ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- United States Patent no. 12,784,716, issued on Nov. 3, was assigned to Hayes-Ivy Manufacturing Inc. (New Tripoli, Pa.).
"Apparatus and method for chime dampening" was invented by Peter Knight (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method and apparatus is disclosed for chime damping. A chime includes a suspension element from which hangs a sound generating element, such as one or more chime tubes or a side wall of a bell chime. A cord retractor is affixed to the suspension element and a center cord is secured to the cord retractor to be windable and unwindable between retracted and extended positions. A damper, a clapper, and/or a windcatcher are affi...