Pedal guitar with selective string controlling arrangement

Claim 2

A musical instrument comprising a first set of strings, a second set of strings, a first tension-control means for varying the tension in strings of said first set of strings, a second tension-control means for varying the tension in strings of said second set of strings, a single operating means for operating said first and said second tension-control means, and shift means for selectively causing said operating means to be connected to either one of said tension-control means and disconnected from the other of said tension-control means, said shift means additionally including means for selectively causing said operating means to be connected simultaneously to said first and said second tension-control means, for thereby providing simultaneous operation of said first and said second tension-control means.

Claim 3

A musical instrument comprising a body, a first set of strings on said body, a second set of strings on said body, a first means for adjusting the tension in strings of said first set, said first means including a plurality of first lever means connected to said strings of said first set, a second means for adjusting the tension in strings of said second set, said second means including a plurality of second lever means connected to said strings of said second set, movable means for operating said first and second means, said movable means including a plurality of first translatable means, each of said first translatable means being connected to one of said first lever means for rotating the same, a plurality of second translatable means, each of said second translatable means being connected to one of said second lever means for rotating the same, and manually operable means for simultaneously moving said first and second translatable means, and shift means for causing said movable means to selectively disengage one of said first and second means for operating only the other of said first and second means, said shift means including means for selectively disconnecting said manually operable means from either said first translatable means or said second translatable means.

Claim 4

A musical instrument comprising a body, a first set of strings on said body, a second set of strings on said body, a first means for adjusting the tension in strings of said first set, said first means including a plurality of first lever means connected to said strings of said first set, a second means for adjusting the tension in strings of said second set, said second means including a plurality of second lever means connected to said strings of said second set, movable means for operating said first and second means, said movable means including a plurality of first translatable means, each of said first translatable means being connected to one of said first lever means for rotating the same, a plurality of second translatable means, each of said second translatable means being connected to one of said second lever means for rotating the same, and manually operable means for simultaneously moving said first and second translatable means, and shift means for causing said movable means to selectively disengage one of said first and second means for operating only the other of said first and second means, said shift means including means for selectively disconnecting said manually operable means from either said first translatable means or said second translatable means.

Claim 5

A device as recited in claim 2 in which each of said first translatable means includes a first linearly movable member connected to one of said first lever means, and a first pivotal member connected to said first linearly movable member for moving said first linearly movable member upon rotation of said first pivotal member, each of said second translatable means includes a second linearly movable member coNnected to one of said second lever means, and a second pivotal member connected to said second linearly movable member for moving said second linearly movable member upon rotation of said second pivotal member, said manually movable means includes a member engageable simultaneously with both said first and second pivotal members, and said shift means includes means for causing said member of said manually movable means to selectively disengage either one of said first and second pivotal members.

Claim 6

A device as recited in claim 3 in which said first pivotal members are on one side of said member of said manually movable means, said second pivotal members are on the opposite side of said member of said manually movable means, and in which said means for causing said member of said manually movable means to selectively engage either one of said first and second pivotal members includes means for displacing said member of said manually movable means away from either said first or said second pivotal members to a position remote therefrom, whereby said member of said manually movable means will not cause rotation of the pivotal members away from which it has been displaced.

Claim 7

A device as recited in claim 4 in which said means for displacing said member of said manually movable means includes a pivotal member, said pivotal member of said means for displacing said member of said manually movable means having guide means for defining a path of movement for said member of said manually movable means, said means for displacing said member of said manually movable means including means for rotating said pivotal member thereof for causing said guide means to so displace said member of said manually movable means.

Claim 8

A device as recited in claim 5 in which said shift means includes a manually movable lever, and link means interconnecting said manually movable lever and said pivotal member of said shift means, whereby rotation of said manually movable lever causes rotation of said pivotal member of said shift means.

Claim 9

A device as recited in claim 2 in which each of said first lever means includes a first duality of levers, one of said levers being pivotal about a point on said body, the other of said levers pivotally engaging said one lever at a location on one side of said point on said body, said other lever being connected to one of said strings of said first set at a location on the other side of said point on said body, said first translatable means including means for selectively so pivoting said one lever and said other lever, whereby, upon said rotation of said one lever, said one lever pulls on said string of said first set for increasing the tension therein and, upon rotation of said other lever, the location of said pivotal engagement of said one lever and said other lever is shifted for decreasing the pull on said string of said first set and decreasing the tension therein, and each of said second lever means includes a second duality of levers, one of said levers of said second duality of levers being pivotal about a point on said body, the other of said levers of said second duality of levers pivotally engaging said one lever of said second duality of levers at a location on one side of said point on said body, said other lever of said second duality of levers being connected to one of said strings of said second set at a location on the other side of said point on said body, said second translatable means including means for selectively so pivoting said one lever and said other lever of said second duality of levers, whereby, upon said rotation of said one lever of said second duality of levers, said one lever pulls on said string of said second set for increasing the tension therein, and, upon said rotation of said other lever of said second duality of levers, the location of said pivotal engagement of said one lever and said other lEver of said second duality of levers is shifted for decreasing the pull on said string of said second set and decreasing the tension therein.

Claim 10

A device as recited in claim 7 in which said means of said first translatable means for so pivoting said one lever and said other lever of said first duality of levers includes a plurality of first transverse members movable toward said first duality of levers on said one side of said point on said body, and a plurality of first adjustable members projecting from each of said first transverse members for engagement with selected ones of said one lever and said other lever of said first duality of levers for rotating the same upon said movement of said first transverse members, and said means of said second translatable means for so pivoting said one lever and said other lever of said second duality of levers includes a plurality of second transverse members movable toward said second duality of levers on said one side of said point on said body, and a plurality of second adjustable members projecting from each of said second transverse members for engagement with selected ones of said one lever and said other lever of said second duality of levers for rotating the same upon said movement of said second transverse members.

Claim 11

In combination with a musical instrument having a body, and a plurality of substantially coplanar strings on said body extending from one end thereof to the other, an arrangement for holding said strings at one end for permitting the tuning thereof comprising a first means for engaging said strings at one end of said body, a slide means for each of said strings, guide means for guiding said slide means at said one end of said body in paths substantially at right angles in the plane of said strings, attachment means on said slide means, said strings extending from said first means to said slide means and being attached to said attachment means, and means for selectively positioning said slide means in said paths for thereby effecting the tuning of said strings, said means for selectively positioning said slide means including a threaded stud projecting from and rotationally fixed relative to each of said slide means, a nut on each of said studs and rotatable relative thereto, and means for preventing axial movement of said nuts relative to said body, whereby rotation of said nuts causes said threaded studs and said slide means to move relative to said guide means.

Claim 12

In combination with a musical instrument having a body, and a plurality of substantially coplanar strings on said body extending from one end thereof to the other, an arrangement for holding said strings at one end for permitting the tuning thereof comprising a first means for engaging said strings at one end of said body, a slide means for each of said strings, guide means for guiding said slide means at said one end of said body in paths substantially at right angles in the plane of said strings, attachment means on said slide means, said strings extending from said first means to said slide means and being attached to said attachment means, and means for selectively positioning said slide means in said paths for thereby effecting the tuning of said strings, said means for selectively positioning said slide means including a threaded stud projecting from and rotationally fixed relative to each of said slide means, a nut on each of said studs and rotatable relative thereto, and means for preventing axial movement of said nuts relative to said body, whereby rotation of said nuts causes said threaded studs and said slide means to move relative to said guide means.

Claim 13

A device as recited in claim 9 in which said guide means includes a plurality of slots substantially at right angles to said plane of said strings, said slide means including a member received in and guided by each of said slots.

Claim 14

A device as recited in claim 9 in which said first means comprises the nut for said strings.