Music – Accessories – Tuning devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-20
2001-09-25
Hsieh, Shih-Yung (Department: 2837)
Music
Accessories
Tuning devices
C084S453000, C084S454000, C081S124200, C081S177850
Reexamination Certificate
active
06294719
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices for winding strings. More particularly, it relates to a device for winding and unwinding strings on tuning pegs of musical instruments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When replacing the strings on stringed instruments, the pegs that tighten the strings must be rotated many times in one direction to unwind the string to remove it. Then, once a new string is in place, the peg must be rotated many times in the opposite direction to re-wind the string onto the peg to tighten it. The unwinding and re-winding is both time-consuming and potentially injurious to the person replacing the string. The motions associated with the process may be damaging the wrist of the user causing a repetitive strain injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
There are several devices that have been designed to aid a user when tuning a string or winding a string. However, the designs for tuning a string are complicated devices, which monitor the vibration of the string and automatically provide minor adjustments to the peg to alter the frequency of the string. Both the tuning devices and the winding device also suffer from a limited range of use. Typically, the member for engaging the peg is usable only for a certain type of peg. If other styles of pegs are used, the devices are either clumsy or completely ineffective.
Therefore, there is a dear need in the industry for a device that allows a user to quickly and easily wind and unwind a string from any style of peg of a musical instrument.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In keeping with the foregoing discussion, the present invention takes the form of a string winding device having a generally circular body with a slot extending inward from one end. The slot has a plurality of sections, each of which are configured to engage different size and shape pegs on stringed instruments. The slot has a shallow and wide section, a deep and narrow section and a middle section of medium depth and width. A fourth section is located perpendicular to the other three sections and is configured for specialty tuning pegs. Extending from the top of the string winder body is a hexagonal shaft for engagement with a cordless screwdriver, drill or one of the hubs or cranks disclosed herein.
A manual hub or crank with a handle may be used to turn the string winder body. The hub of the crank and the manual hub may each utilize a flexible tab within the hub to interlock with a recess in the hexagonal shaft to hold the parts together during use. The crank also has a lever arm attached to the hub and a rotating handle attached to the opposite end of the lever arm. A user may hold the handle and rotate the lever arm clockwise or counter-clockwise in order to tighten or loose the string on the peg of the instrument.
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Jeffrey David R.
Palecki Thomas L.
Hsieh Shih-yung
Leary James J.
Titus Carol D.
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