Music – Instruments – Stringed
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-16
2004-02-03
Lockett, Kimberly (Department: 3724)
Music
Instruments
Stringed
C084S290000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06686523
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to instrument components and more particularly to an improved system and method for mounting instrument components to a stringed instrument.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, stringed instruments such as guitars have separate structures, which must be carefully installed and aligned in order for the strings to accurately reproduce desired notes when the strings are plucked or strummed. Referring to FIG.
1
A and
FIG. 1B
, components of a standard guitar are shown mounted to a guitar body
100
. These components include a tailpiece
102
, a bridge
104
, and pickups
106
. Using a conventional method of mounting guitar components, the tailpiece
102
and the bridge
104
are typically held in position by tension from strings
108
,
109
,
110
,
111
,
112
, and
113
(herein after “
108
-
113
”). At one end, the strings
108
-
113
pass through holes in the tailpiece
102
. The tailpiece
102
provides mechanical strength for the tension of the stretched strings
108
-
113
against the guitar body. The strings
108
-
113
then pass over the bridge
106
, which is used to initially set the tuning of the guitar to a proper tone and timbre.
In a typical electric guitar, the strings
108
-
113
will next pass over one or more magnetic or other type of pickups
106
. These pickups
106
convert the physical vibration of the strings
108
-
113
into electrical energy, which can then be electrically amplified. The strings
108
-
113
then extend over, but do not contact, multiple frets (not shown) on the guitar body
100
, between which the strings
108
-
113
are depressed so that the effective length of the strings
108
-
113
are shortened. This shortening of the strings
108
-
113
thereby increases a frequency at which a particular string vibrates, thus causing a distinct note.
The strings
108
-
113
eventually extend onto tuning pegs (not shown) towards a neck of the guitar body
100
. These tuning pegs are adjustable to increase and decrease the tension on the strings
108
-
113
. A change in tension of the strings
108
-
113
causes a change in the frequency of the tone of each string so that the proper notes are heard.
Accordingly, the strings
108
-
113
are stretched initially between the bridge
104
and the tuning peg in order to tune the strings
108
-
113
to their proper respective note. Then the strings
108
-
113
are stressed further by a guitar player while playing by forcing the strings
108
-
113
down onto the a fingerboard between the frets. Because the energy with which some players play their guitars, the strings
108
-
113
stretch and may have to be replaced daily or even more frequently. Conventionally, the tailpiece
102
and the bridge
104
are only held in position by tension from the strings
108
-
113
. Thus, loosening or removal of the strings
108
-
113
will cause the tailpiece
102
and the bridge
104
to become freely detached from the guitar body
100
. If the guitar turner is not careful, the tailpiece
102
or the bridge
104
may accidentally fall off the guitar body
100
and possibly mar a surface of the guitar body
100
.
A further disadvantage of conventional methods of securing tailpieces and bridges is that a complete readjustment of all components of the guitar is typically required after every loosening and/or removal of the strings
108
-
113
. Thus, readjustment may be required after such simple operations as cleaning and simple maintenance of the guitar. Retuning requires a very fine ear and patience from a guitar tuner. Alternatively, the guitar tuner may utilize a separate tuning device to reset the guitar bridge
104
and tuning ramps known as saddles on the bridge
102
. With either retuning method, much time and effort is required to retune the guitar to a playable condition. Therefore, there is a need for an improved system and method for securing instrument components to stringed instruments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved system and method for securing a component to an instrument body. The system includes a component having a long, narrow base piece with a vertical stud aperture at each end of the base piece formed from a top surface through a bottom surface of the component. The system further includes a mounting apparatus having an insert, which is removably mounted into the instrument body. The component may further include an adjustment screw hole extending from one side of the component to each stud aperture. Adjustment screws may then be provided for insertion into the adjustment screw holes. The adjustment screws are fastened through the adjustment screw holes and into contact with the insert to position the component laterally with respect to the insert.
The mounting apparatus further includes a mounting stud, which secures the component to the instrument body. The mounting stud comprises a top portion and a threaded lower portion. The component is positioned such that the component is supported on a plate of the insert. The mounting stud is fastened into an aperture portion of the insert such that the top portion of the mounting stud clamps down on the component and securely holds the component in place.
Thus, the present invention allows for critical adjustments and settings to be made and preserved by securing the components to the instrument body. The components retain their setting adjustments and remain solidly secured even when strings are completely removed from the instrument. The present invention also improves sound quality and playability of the instrument. By creating a secure solid connection with the instrument body, resonation of the strings are better transferred to the instrument body creating a louder and more full sounding instrument. This system and method of the present invention also increases the sustainability of string vibrations by better transfer of resonation to the instrument body.
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patent: 2714326 (1955-08-01), McCarty
patent: 2740313 (1956-04-01), McCarty
patent: 3237502 (1966-03-01), Moseley
patent: 3440921 (1969-04-01), McCarty
patent: 3876821 (1975-04-01), Pringle
patent: 4069733 (1978-01-01), Quan
patent: 4291607 (1981-09-01), Kauffman
patent: 4457201 (1984-07-01), Storey
patent: 4753560 (1988-06-01), Ryder
patent: 5231908 (1993-08-01), Skvarce et al.
patent: 5497690 (1996-03-01), Soupios
patent: 5716112 (1998-02-01), Staszak
patent: 6028258 (2000-02-01), Hicks et al.
patent: 6599071 (2003-07-01), McCauley et al.
Devereaux Sharon
Laubhan Kurt O.
Carr & Ferrell LLP
Lockett Kimberly
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