Music – Instruments – Stringed
Utility Patent
1999-09-15
2001-01-02
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Stringed
C084S715000, C084S267000
Utility Patent
active
06169236
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many different acoustical stringed instruments have strings secured by a bridge to the top surface of a flat soundboard. When one or more strings are plucked, the board vibrates to produce sound each with its own single resonant frequency and each having harmonics which are multiples of the resonant frequency. As these multiples increase in frequency, such as the second harmonic, the third harmonica and so on, the quality of the sound increases.
The strings that produce higher frequency sounds are disposed along one side of the board while the strings that produce lower frequency sounds are disposed along the other side of the board. These two sides are of like width and length and are disposed on opposite sides of an axis of symmetry so that the board has a symmetrical design
In the present invention, the soundboard is differently designed in such manner as to provide additional multiples of increased frequency, thereby substantially enhancing the quality of sounds produced by the instrument.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the principles of this invention, the soundboard while remaining symmetrically shaped is constrained by means secured to the back thereof in such manner that a first side of the board disposed below the strings that produce higher frequency sounds acts as if it were stiffer and relatively short and wide, while the second side of the board which is disposed below the strings which produce lower frequency sounds acts as if it were compliant and relatively longer and narrower than the first side.
The means secured to the back of the board include a plurality of spaced elongated flat struts which cause the second side of the board to function as if it were stiffer, shorter and wider than the first side and cause the first side of the board to function as if it were more compliant, longer and narrower than the second side. These struts are progressively graduated in width and in length from shorter and wider struts secured to the first side of the board to longer and narrower struts secured to the second side of the board. These struts are each oriented at different angles with respect to each other.
As a result, the instrument when plucked produces an enhanced resonant frequency with an increased number of higher frequency harmonics, thereby enhancing the richness of sound as compared to the response of the same instrument employing a conventional soundboard without the strut means employed in the present invention.
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Bierman Jordon B.
Bierman, Muserlian and Lucas
Lockett Kim
Nappi Robert E.
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