Electric guitar with tremolo unit

Details Electric guitar with tremolo unit Electric guitar with tremolo unit

2002-06-13

2004-03-23

Hsieh, Shih-Yung (Department: 2837)

Music

Instruments

Stringed

C084S31200P, C084S298000, C084S299000, C084S307000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06710235

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electric guitar with a tremolo unit.
An electric guitar that has a tremolo unit prevents the electric guitar from being detuned by changes in the tension (pitch) of strings while the guitar is being played using the tremolo unit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,661 discloses an electric guitar that has a tremolo unit. According to the guitar of the publication, each string is locked by a bolt and a presser member at a saddle of the tremolo unit. A fixing member is also arranged on a nut, which is located in the vicinity of the head, to fix the strings. This structure prevents the guitar to be detuned even if the tremolo unit is used.
FIG. 8
illustrates another type of tremolo unit. This tremolo unit has a base plate
23
and a hinge mechanism for connecting the base plate
23
to a guitar body. A pair of pin supports
61
,
61
is integrally formed with the base plate
23
at the sides of the base plate
23
. A bore
61
a
is formed in each pin support
61
. A coupling pin
62
is connected to each pin support
61
by press fitting the proximal end of the pin
62
into the bore
61
a
. A pair of brackets
64
,
64
is coupled to the body with support pins
63
,
63
. Each bracket
64
can pivot about the corresponding support pin
63
. A bearing device comprising a single bearing
65
fits in each bracket
64
. Each coupling pin
62
fits into the central bore of the corresponding bearing
65
.
Since the coupling pins
62
receive relatively great tension of the strings, the bores
61
a
need to be sufficiently deep to bear the tension. Also, since the bearings
65
,
65
receive the tension of the strings, the bearings
65
need to be sufficiently long to bear the tension. The distance D1 between the centers O
1
, O
1
of the bores
61
a
,
61
a
and the distance between the center O
1
of each bore
61
a
and the axial midpoint O
2
of the corresponding bearing
65
are determined to ensure sufficient depth of the bores
61
a
and sufficient length of bearings
65
The distance D3 between the axial midpoint O
2
of each bearing
65
(the corresponding midpoint O
3
) and the outer edge of the corresponding bracket
64
is determined such that the midpoint O
3
of each support pin
63
is included in a line that contains the axial midpoint O
2
of the corresponding bearing
65
and is parallel to the strings. Accordingly, the tension of the strings evenly acts on the bearings
65
,
65
. In this structure, the distance between the outer edges of the brackets
64
,
64
is represented by a formula D1+2×D2+2×D3. The brackets
64
thus require a relatively large lateral space. If widely separated, the brackets
64
impair the appearance of the guitar.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an electric guitar with a tremolo unit that minimizes the space required for a hinge mechanism supporting the base plate.
To achieve the foregoing and other objectives and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, an electric guitar having a plurality of strings is provided. Each string has a first contact point defined on a neck and a second contact point defined on a base plate attached to a body. The guitar includes a hinge mechanism for supporting the base plate such that the base plate pivots relative to the body. The hinge mechanism includes a pair of bores, a pair of bearing devices, a pair of support pins, a pair of brackets, and a pair of bracket pins. Each bore is formed at a side of the base plate. Each bearing device is located in one of the bores. The support pins protrude from the body. Each support pin corresponds to one of the bearing devices and is located closer to the neck than the corresponding bearing device. Each bracket is coupled to one of the support pins. Each bracket pin is coupled to one of the brackets and fits into the corresponding bearing device. The axial midpoint of each bearing device and the center of the corresponding support pin are located on a line that is substantially parallel to the strings.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4171661 (1979-10-01), Rose
patent: 4549461 (1985-10-01), Rose
patent: 4967631 (1990-11-01), Rose
patent: 5083492 (1992-01-01), Gorr
patent: 5986191 (1999-11-01), McCabe

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