Music – Instruments – Stringed
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-16
2003-04-22
Lockett, Kim (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Stringed
Reexamination Certificate
active
06552252
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the tremolo device for stringed musical instruments.
TECHNOLOGY ACCORDING TO PRIOR ART
Tremolo devices for stringed instruments are widely used, particularly for electric guitars. The tremolo is operable for providing impressive acoustic effects by simultaneously increasing or decreasing the tension of all strings of a stringed instrument.
FIG. 14
shows a conventional tremolo device
120
, installed on a body B of a stringed instrument, here a guitar. The tremolo is comprised of a tremolo body which serves as a guitar (bridge)
130
on which there is a string support
131
including a bridge saddle, etc. for the support of the guitar strings S. The string support
131
is arranged at the top surface of the body, while a tremolo block
132
protrudes below the top surface. A spring
140
maintains a state of equilibrium of the tremolo body
130
by working together with an arm
135
for manipulating the swinging of the tremolo body
130
installed on the surface of the instrument and the guitar string S that is spaced above the surface of the body B as the spring extends between the tremolo block
132
and the body B.
The tremolo body
130
remains at a location and orientation at which there is a balance between the tensile forces exerted by all of the strings S and the force of the spring
140
that works in the opposite direction for maintaining a state of equilibrium. As the tremolo body
130
is swung by moving the arm
135
, the tension of all the strings S is simultaneously either increased or decreased, causing the musical intervals of the various strings S to either rise or drop. The tremolo body
130
returns to its original equilibrium position when the arm
135
is released. The musical intervals of the strings S are restored to the original intervals as the state of equilibrium is restored.
However, a balancing system for a tremolo body
130
, which is based on the force of the spring
140
and on the tensile strength of the strings S, is extremely sensitive. Its tuning becomes out of order if the tremolo body
130
is not completely restored to its original state of equilibrium (which position in a balanced state serves as the central point) after the swinging of the tremolo body
130
due to such factors as friction at the swaying fulcrum of the tremolo body
130
, the incompleteness of the restoring force of the spring
140
, a performer's hand touching the tremolo body
130
or the arm
135
during a performance, choking (bending of the string) or fluttering (blurring of sound due to the moment of inertia that is produced at the time when the hand is suddenly taken away from the arm
135
), or the mutilation of a string S.
Another major shortcoming of this tremolo device
120
is that tuning it is extremely difficult, because when tuning is performed until a certain string is raised to its target interval, the sum of the tensions of all of the strings S also increases. This moves the position of the state of equilibrium of the tremolo body
130
in the direction toward the neck of the guitar to the front, shortening the distance from the nut of the guitar to the string support part of the tremolo body, thereby reducing the tension of the other strings S, in turn causing the intervals of the other strings to decrease. Conversely, when the tension of some string S is lowered, the musical intervals of other strings S increases. Accordingly, it is theoretically impossible to completely and perfectly tune all of the strings S, and it requires an extremely large effort to bring the strings near to a perfectly tuned state.
For each string S there is a prescribed relationship among the target intervals, string density and the length of the string. Where one terminal end of the string S moves like the tremolo device
120
having a conventional structure, there are numerous neutral points that strike the balance in the tuning of the open strings, except for the scale length of the conventional stringed instruments, depending upon the strength of the spring
140
. Accordingly, the desired musical intervals cannot be obtained if a state of equilibrium is achieved in front or at the back of the design location of the state of equilibrium (neutral point), even when the fretting on the guitar neck may be controlled.
There has been great interest in overcoming the above described shortcomings of the tremolo device
120
. Recently, many tremolo devices employing a string which is stronger than the tensile force of known strings have been proposed, as described in Toku Kai Hei 1-93793 and Toku Ko Hei 2-48120, etc.
The mechanism described in Toku Kai Hei 1-93793, however, requires applying an extremely strong force for operating the tremolo arm when the musical intervals are to be raised through an increase in the tensile force of the string.
In the tremolo device in Toku Kai Hei 2-48120, on the other hand, the restoring force of the spring may be affected because the spring is tilted or deformed in a direction other than its direction of expansion or contraction when the tremolo body is swung, as the tremolo block and the spring are directly connected to each other. Moreover, in this tremolo device, the sound created at contact between a stopper and the tremolo body for stopping the tremolo body is quite large. When a buffer member, e.g. of rubber, etc. is interposed between the two elements to control the sound, the small size of the contact area contributes toward increasing the amount of the deformation of the buffer member and produces erroneous tuning.
In addition, this tremolo device has many places requiring adjustment. It is difficult for the user to determine locations requiring adjustment and the appropriate method for such adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention was directed toward the above described circumstances. Its purpose is to provide a tremolo device for the stringed instruments, which is capable of minimizing erroneous tuning, making it possible to easily and accurately carry out tuning, and to reduce the contact sound produced when the tremolo body is swung, and where the number of the locations requiring adjustment is small.
The invention relates to a tremolo for a stringed instrument, constructed to obtain musical intervals by changing the tension of a string of the instrument through the swinging of the tremolo body based on the operation of an arm. A tremolo body is installed on the body of the stringed instrument to swing freely, with a string support for the support of the string being arranged on the top surface and a tremolo block protruding toward the bottom side. An arm installed on the tremolo body is operated to manipulate the swinging of the tremolo body. A reverse side mechanism base is arranged below said body. A positioning stopper is provided at the bottom of the base or body. A slide block is constructed to be able to move freely to the front or to the rear. A movable stopper is movable back and forth freely and is capable of contacting or mi moving away from the slide block. A link links the tremolo block and the slide block.
A first spring between the bottom side mechanism base and the slide block urges the slide block toward the front. A second spring between the movable stopper and the bottom side mechanism base also urges the movable stopper to the front. When the tremolo arm is not being operated, the slide block and the movable stopper contact and the movable stopper and the positioning stopper contact due to the tensile strength of the string disposed above the body. The forces of the first and second springs bring the tremolo body into a state of equilibrium.
When the tremolo body is swung to tilt toward the front by operating the arm, the tremolo block is rotated to the rear. As a result, the slide block and the movable stopper slide rearward joined by the link. When the movable stopper has been separated from the positioning stopper, and while the operation of the tremolo arm has been discontinued, the slide block and the movable stopper are restored to thei
Hoshino Gakki Kabushiki Kaisha
Lockett Kim
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