US3785240A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chord-teaching device for a stringed instrument
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-14
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Granted: 1974-01-15
•
Expires: 1993-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A device for teaching chords for a stringed instrument including a stringboard having strings and frets. The device includes an elongate box having a front stringboard wall. A plurality of parallel rows extend longitudinally on the front stringboard wall, the rows representing the strings of the instrument. A plurality of parallel rows extend transversely of the string rows and represent frets of the instrument. A plurality of apertures are provided in regularly spaced, longitudinal alignment along each string row, and in regularly spaced, transverse alignment relative to the string rows. The elongate box further includes a card-supporting wall behind and spaced from the front stringboard wall to provide a slot behind the apertures. A chord card fits in the slot. This card includes a designation of a chord and a fret, an index for alignment with a fret row, and a designation of fingers located for alignment with appropriate apertures when the index is aligned with a fret row to indicate visually through the apertures the finger placement on the strings of the instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 E Hill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:45
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B15/00; G09B15/001; G09B15/004; G09B15/005; G09B15/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A device for teaching chords for a stringed instrument including a stringboard having strings and frets, the device comprising: a. an elongate box having a front stringboard wall, the front stringboard wall including: 1. a plurality of parallel rows extending longitudinally, and representing the strings of the instrument, 2. a plurality of parallel rows extending transversely of the string rows, and representing the frets of the instrument, and 3. a plurality of apertures in regularly spaced, longitudinal alignment along each string row, and in regularly spaced transverse alignment relative to the string rows, b. a card-supporting wall behind and spaced from the front stringboard wall to provide a slot behind the apertures, and c. a chord card fitting in the slot, the card includiNg: 1. a designation of a chord and a fret, 2. an index for alignment with a fret row, and 3. a designation of fingers located for alignment with appropriate apertures when the index is aligned with a fret row to indicate visually through the apertures the finger placement on the strings.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A device for teaching chords for a stringed instrument including a stringboard having strings and frets, the device comprising: a. an elongate box having a front stringboard wall, the front stringboard wall including: 1. a plurality of parallel rows extending longitudinally, and representing the strings of the instrument, 2. a plurality of parallel rows extending transversely of the string rows, and representing the frets of the instrument, and 3. a plurality of apertures in regularly spaced, longitudinal alignment along each string row, and in regularly spaced transverse alignment relative to the string rows, b. a card-supporting wall behind and spaced from the front stringboard wall to provide a slot behind the apertures, and c. a chord card fitting in the slot, the card includiNg: 1. a designation of a chord and a fret, 2. an index for alignment with a fret row, and 3. a designation of fingers located for alignment with appropriate apertures when the index is aligned with a fret row to indicate visually through the apertures the finger placement on the strings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
a plurality of parallel rows extending transversely of the string rows, and representing the frets of the instrument, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
a plurality of parallel rows extending transversely of the string rows, and representing the frets of the instrument, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
an index for alignment with a fret row, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
9 words
an index for alignment with a fret row, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which: d. the apertures are arranged in spaced, transverse alignment between adjacent transverse fret rows.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
a designation of fingers located for alignment with appropriate apertures when the index is aligned with a fret row to indicate visually through the apertures the finger placement on the strings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
a designation of fingers located for alignment with appropriate apertures when the index is aligned with a fret row to indicate visually through the apertures the finger placement on the strings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
a plurality of apertures in regularly spaced, longitudinal alignment along each string row, and in regularly spaced transverse alignment relative to the string rows, b. a card-supporting wall behind and spaced from the front stringboard wall to provide a slot behind the apertures, and c. a chord card fitting in the slot, the card includiNg:
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
a plurality of apertures in regularly spaced, longitudinal alignment along each string row, and in regularly spaced transverse alignment relative to the string rows, b. a card-supporting wall behind and spaced from the front stringboard wall to provide a slot behind the apertures, and c. a chord card fitting in the slot, the card includiNg:
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which: d. the string rows have numbers at one end of the rows, the numbers indicating the instrument strings in sequence from bottom to top of the instrument stringboard, and e. the fret rows have numbers at one end of the rows, the numbers indicating the instrument frets in sequence along the instrument stringboard relative to the string rows, the fret rows each having a register point for selective alignment with a chord card index.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which: d. the elongate box includes opposed end walls and a bottom wall between the front stringboard wall and the card-supporting wall, e. the slot is open at the top substantially between the opposed end walls, and f. the chord card seats on the bottom wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as defined in claim 4, in which: g. the slot is of a depth slightly greater than the thickness of the chord card so that the card is held substantially parallel to the front stringboard wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which: d. the elongate box includes opposed end walls between the front stringboard wall and the card-supporting wall, and e. the slot is continuous between the opposed end walls for sliding movement of the chord card in the slot to align the card index selectively with any one of the fret rows.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which: d. a rear wall is located behind and spaced from the card-supporting wall to provide a storage compartment therebetween for chord cards.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |