Guitar strings with enlarged end

Claim 2

A ball-ended string for a musical instrument, which comprises: a string for a musical instrument, one end portion of said string being bent; and a mass of tightly folded metal haviNg said bent string end portion embedded therein, said mass having at least one fold plane formed therein.

Claim 3

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said fold plane extends outwardly from said bent portion of said string in a direction transverse to the portion of said string which is adjacent said mass but is not embedded therein.

Claim 4

A ball-ended metal string for a guitar or similar musical instrument, which comprises: a metal string for a musical instrument, one end portion of said string being S-shaped; and a mass of tightly folded metal having said S-shaped string end portion embedded therein, said mass having two fold planes therein, one of said fold planes extending outwardly from one bend of the S and being between the two regions of the S which are adjacent said one fold plane, the other of said fold planes extending outwardly from the other bend of the S and being between the two regions of the S which are adjacent said other fold plane, said fold planes being substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 5

A ball-ended metal string for a guitar or similar musical instrument, which comprises: a metal string for a musical instrument, one end portion of said string being S-shaped; and a mass of tightly folded metal having said S-shaped string end portion embedded therein, said mass having two fold planes therein, one of said fold planes extending outwardly from one bend of the S and being between the two regions of the S which are adjacent said one fold plane, the other of said fold planes extending outwardly from the other bend of the S and being between the two regions of the S which are adjacent said other fold plane, said fold planes being substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 6

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which the portion of said string which is adjacent said mass, but not embedded therein, lies between two lines which are parallel to each other and are respectively tangential to the bends of the S.

Claim 7

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said mass has a cylindrical surface generally coaxial with the portion of said string which is adjacent said mass but not embedded therein.

Claim 8

The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which said mass has a convergent wall at one end of said cylindrical surface, said wall being generally hemispherical, said wall being adjacent the end of said mass from which the main body of said metal string projects.

Claim 9

The invention as claimed in claim 6, in which said mass has a neck around said string and at the small end of said hemispherical wall.

Claim 10

The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which said mass is convex at the end thereof remote from the projecting string.

Claim 11

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said mass is formed of steel which has cold-flowed closely around the S to seize the same.

Claim 12

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said mass does not incorporate any substantial voids or gaps.

Claim 13

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which each of said fold planes extends outwardly to the surface of said mass.

Claim 14

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said fold planes are substantial perpendicular to the portion of said string which is adjacent said mass but is not embedded therein.

Claim 15

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said metal string comprises a core wire having high tensile strength, and which has helically wrapped thereon a soft metal wrap wire.

Claim 16

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said metal string is a single-strand music wire made of steel, and having a tin coating thereon.

Claim 17

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said mass is tightly-folded sheet metal.

Claim 18

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said mass is tightly-folded thin steel.

Claim 19

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said mass is tightly-folded metal which is relatively hard but is capable of cold flow when subjected to very high pressures.

Claim 20

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said mass is tightly-folded rolled sheet steel having a Rokwell hardness (30 T Scale) of about 62/68.

Claim 21

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said mass is tight-folded metal the wall thickness of which, prior to folding, is about 0.021 inch.

Claim 22

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said bent string end is smoothly bent, not sharply bent.

Claim 23

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said ball-ended string is the product of a process comprising mechanically compressing metal in a forming chamber to cause cold flow thereof until said forming chamber is substantially filled, said compressing taking place while said one end portion of said string is disposed in said forming chamber.

Claim 24

The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said ball-ended string is the product of a process comprising providing a metal ferrule around one end portion of said string, applying lateral compressive forces to said ferrule to laterally deform the same, and applying longitudinal compressive forces to said ferrule to longitudinally deform and compress the same and thus form said mass of tightly-folded metal having embedded therein said one string end portion in bent condition.

Claim 25

The invention as claimed in claim 22, in which at least said longitudinal compressive forces are applied while said mass is disposed in a forming chamber, and are of sufficient magnitude that the metal cold flows until said forming chamber is substantially filled.

Claim 26

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said mass is tightly-folded thin steel which is relatively hard but is capable of cold flow when subjected to high mechanical pressures.

Claim 27

The invention as claimed in claim 24, in which said thin steel forming said mass is tin mill and has a Rockwell hardness (30 T Scale) of about 62/68, and has a wall thickness, prior to folding, of about 0.021 inch.

Claim 28

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which each bend in said S-shaped string end portion is smooth and not sharp.

Claim 29

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said ball-ended string is the product of a process comprising mechanically compressing metal in a forming chamber to cause cold flow thereof until said forming chamber is substantially filled, said compressing taking place while said one end portion of said string is disposed in said forming chamber.

Claim 30

The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said ball-ended string is the product of a process comprising providing a metal ferrule around one end portion of said string, applying lateral compressive forces at two longitudinally offset and diametrically opposite points along said ferrule to laterally deform the same, and applying longitudinal compressive forces to said ferrule to longitudinally deform and compress the same, at least said longitudinal compressive forces being applied while said ferrule is disposed in a forming chamber, said longitudinal compressive forces having sufficient magnitude to effect substantial filling of said forming chamber, whereby to form said mass of tightly-folded metal having embedded therein said one string end portion in S-shaped condition.