US3603192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foot-operated bass-stringed musical instrument
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-11-10
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-11-10
Abstract
Abstract In a foot-operated bass-stringed instrument, in which four tense, electric bass strings are mounted on a vertical backboard; a plurality of chord forming pedals actuated by the left foot, a pedal actuated plucking mechanism; the improvement of an individual plucking pick for each string pivotally supported to pluck the adjacent string, a separate pedal to actuate each pick, and a pivoted heel support for the right foot of the musician to facilitate the turning of the foot over the selected pedals for the respective plucking mechanisms. The plucking mechanism is selective to pluck on the upstroke and downstroke of the pick, or pluck only on the upstroke but to miss the string on the downstroke. A vibration stopping pad is normally pressed against each string and is moved from the string simultaneously with the respective plucking.
Inventors
- 👤 James L Kaar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:23
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D1/00; G10D1/02; G10D3/00; G10D3/16; G10D3/173
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
In a foot-operated stringed musical instrument including an instrument frame having a base and a backboard, plurality of tense bass strings mounted on said backboard to extend through a chord zone and a sounding zone, a plurality of chord-forming foot pedals movably mounted on said base, in said chord zone, each pedal having a member extending transversely of said strings at a spaced distance therealong for forming a chord when the panel is depressed, the improvement of individual string plucking means for each of said strings mounted on said base in said sounding zone, each of said plucking means including a plucking element moving along the front of said backboard to individually pluck a single adjacent string, a sounding foot pedal for actuating said plucking element, means to transmit movement from said sounding foot pedal to said plucking element, means to guide said string-plucking means to pluck the adjacent string in one direction of its movement and selectively to bypass said adjacent string or to pluck said adjacent string during its return stroke in the opposite direction, and foot-operated control for said selective guide means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a foot-operated stringed musical instrument including an instrument frame having a base and a backboard, plurality of tense bass strings mounted on said backboard to extend through a chord zone and a sounding zone, a plurality of chord-forming foot pedals movably mounted on said base, in said chord zone, each pedal having a member extending transversely of said strings at a spaced distance therealong for forming a chord when the panel is depressed, the improvement of individual string plucking means for each of said strings mounted on said base in said sounding zone, each of said plucking means including a plucking element moving along the front of said backboard to individually pluck a single adjacent string, a sounding foot pedal for actuating said plucking element, means to transmit movement from said sounding foot pedal to said plucking element, means to guide said string-plucking means to pluck the adjacent string in one direction of its movement and selectively to bypass said adjacent string or to pluck said adjacent string during its return stroke in the opposite direction, and foot-operated control for said selective guide means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A musical instrument as specified in claim 1, and a swivelable heel support, said sounding foot pedals being arranged relatively to said heel support to be engageable by the ball of a foot with the heel resting on said heel support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A musical instrument as specified in claim 1, said string plucking means including a pivoted pick finger, said means to transmit movement including an extension of said sounding foot pedal being pivotally connected to said pick finger so as to raise said pick finger about its pivot when the sounding pedal is depressed and to lower said pick finger when its foot pedal is raised, and resilient means to normally raise said sounding foot pedal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A musical instrument as specified in claim 1, and said foot-operated control being operable to shift said finger at will toward plucking position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A musical instrument as specified in claim 4, and connecting means between said foot-operated control and said finger for transmitting oscillation of the foot lever to said finger in the respective directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A musical instrument as specified in claim 1, and a vibration inhibiting member engaging each string, means to hold said member initially in engagement with its string, and means connected to and actuated By said movement transmitting means to move said member away from its string thereby to free its string for vibration by plucking.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A musical instrument as specified in claim 1, and a vibration inhibiting member engaging each string, means to hold said member in engagement with its string, and means alternately actuatable by said movement transmitting means and by said foot-operated control to move said member away from its string to permit vibration by the respective pluckings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A musical instrument as specified in claim 1, and each individual string plucking element being a pick finger with a pick on its free end, a pivotal support pivoting the other end of said pick finger, said guide means including a cam guide spaced from said pick and engaging said pick finger to guide said finger away from or toward its string during its return movement after each plucking according to said foot operated control, said movement transmitting means being an upward extended member connected to each sounding pedal and pivotally connected to the adjacent pick finger, and resiliently yieldable means to return each sounding pedal to an initial position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
A musical instrument as specified in claim 6, and means to fulcrum said pivotal support for movement toward and away from the adjacent string thereby to shift the pivotal support with the shifting of said pick finger by said guide means away from the adjacent string, and said foot-operated control adjacent each sounding pedal being connected to said pivotal support to prevent the shifting of said pivotal support and said pick finger away from the adjacent string thereby to cause the plucking of the adjacent string during the return of the pick finger to its initial position after each operation of its sounding pedal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A musical instrument as specified in claim 8, and a vibration dampener pad for each string, pad supporting means, and means coordinated with movement of said pick finger to shift said pad supporting means for releasing said pad from its string substantially immediately before each plucking of said string.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A musical instrument as specified in claim 9, and a vibration dampener pad for each string, pad supporting means, and means coordinated with movement of said pick finger to shift said pad supporting means for releasing said pad from its string substantially immediately before each plucking of said string.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a foot-operated stringed musical instrument including an instrument frame having a base and a backboard, plurality of tense bass strings mounted on said backboard to extend through a chord zone and a sounding zone, a plurality of chord forming foot pedals movably mounted on said base, in said chord zone, each pedal having a member extending transversely of said strings at a spaced distance therealong for forming a chord when the panel is depressed, the improvement of individual string plucking means for each of said strings mounted on said base in said sounding zone, each of said plucking means including a plucking element moving along the front of said backboard to individually pluck a single adjacent string, a sounding foot pedal for actuating said plucking element, and means to transmit movement from said sounding foot pedal to said plucking element, resilient means to normally urge said plucking means away from the adjacent string, and a foot-operatable device to shift said plucking means toward the adjacent string at will after plucking and during the return stroke of said plucking means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a foot-operated stringed musical instrument including an instrument frame having a base and a backboard, plurality of tense bass strings mounted on said backboard to extend through a chord zone and a sounding zone, a plurality of chord forming foot pedals movably mounted on said base, in said chord zone, each pedal having a member extending transversely of said strings at a spaced distance therealong for forming a chord when the panel is depressed, the improvement of individual string plucking means for each of said strings mounted on said base in said sounding zone, each of said plucking means including a plucking element moving along the front of said backboard to individually pluck a single adjacent string, a sounding foot pedal for actuating said plucking element, and means to transmit movement from said sounding foot pedal to said plucking element, resilient means to normally urge said plucking means away from the adjacent string, and a foot-operatable device to shift said plucking means toward the adjacent string at will after plucking and during the return stroke of said plucking means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |