Stringed instrument with improved neck and body attachment

Details Stringed instrument with improved neck and body attachment Stringed instrument with improved neck and body attachment

1999-12-17

2001-07-17

Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)

Music

Instruments

Stringed

C084S291000, C084S293000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06262353

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to stringed musical instruments and, more specifically, to an improved stringed musical instrument and method of making a stringed musical instrument, especially an electric stringed instrument (e.g., an electric guitar), having attached neck and body portions.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
There are numerous types of stringed instruments, e.g., guitars, banjos, etc., known in the art. Typically, guitars, for example, are constructed with two distinct portions—a wide body portion and a narrow neck portion extending therefrom. The strings of the guitar are typically mounted along the neck of the guitar, with first ends of the strings attached to the body and second ends of the strings attached at a distal end of the neck. The body can be hollow, semi-hollow or solid, as known in the art.
While neck and body portions have been formed as a single integral unit, a variety of guitars have been made in which the neck and body portions are formed from separate portions that are attached together to form the instrument. As some examples: U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,672 shows a guitar with a quick-release neck; U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,904 shows a guitar with a replaceable neck; U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,970 shows a connector for joining the neck and body of a guitar; U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,267 shows an adjustable neck-body joint for a guitar; U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,962 shows a collapsible banjo having a removable neck
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; U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,405 shows an attachment of guitar neck and body portions; U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,211 shows a collapsible guitar in which the neck is hinged to the guitar body; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,657,462 shows a stringed instrument with a detachable neck.
While a number of neck and body attachments are known in the art, there are a variety of problems with such existing attachments. Among other things, existing attachments can be difficult to assemble, costly to assemble, structurally unsound and aesthetically undesirable. Thus, there exists a continued need in the art for improved neck and body attachment methods and devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the above and other problems in the art. The present invention provides a neck and body attachment having substantial benefits over existing devices and structures.
According to a first general aspect of the invention, a stringed musical instrument, is provided that includes: a) a body having a front surface and a rear surface; b) a bridge mounted on the front surface; c) at least one cavity below the front surface between the bridge and one end of the body; d) a separate neck mounted to the body, the neck having a proximal end that overlaps with a portion of the body and that extends behind the at least one cavity; e) at least one securing member extending from the at least one cavity through the body and partly into the proximal end for attaching the neck to the body; f) a cover element located within the at least one cavity covering the at least one securing member; and g) front and rear surfaces of the body and neck being free of visible securing members. Preferably, the instrument is an electric instrument and the cover element is a sound pick-up.
According to a second general aspect of the invention, a method of making a stringed instrument is provided that includes the steps of: a) providing a body having a front surface, a rear surface, a bridge mounted on the front surface, and a cavity extending to the front surface between the bridge and one end of the body; b) providing a separate neck, the neck having a narrowed proximal end; c) overlapping the proximal end of the neck and the body such that the proximal end extends behind the cavity; e) connecting a plurality of securing members that extend from the cavity through the body and partly into the proximal end for attaching the neck to the body; f) placing a cover element within the cavity over said securing members; and g) forming the front and rear surfaces of the body and neck to be free of visible securing members.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be even further understood based on the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and claims.


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