US3892159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Soundboard-bridge configuration for acoustic guitars
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1974-08-05
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Granted: 1975-07-01
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Expires: 1994-08-05
Abstract
Abstract The bridge of a lute type instrument, such as a guitar, is supported by a bridge plate under the top of the instrument. The bridge plate is mounted to a stiff, rigid bracing in a manner which allows the plate to rotate about an axis in the direction of the neck of the instrument while preventing it from rotating forward under the tension of the strings. The bracing does not touch the top of the sound chamber except permissibily near the edges of the top. The thickness of the bridge plate varies monotonically transverse to the string direction to achieve optimal sound energy transmission over the frequency range of the instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Adrianus J M Houtsma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:04
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D1/00; G10D1/04; G10D1/05; G10D1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A stringed musical instrument of the lute type having a hollow body consisting of a top, a back and sides, a neck, strings tuned to increasing pitches from low on one side to high on the other side running generally parallel to said neck and terminating on a bridge attached to the top, the improvement comprising said bridge being also flexibly attached to a structure of at least one brace extending between said sides, neck or tailblock, said brace structure being separate from said top leaving a space between said brace structure and said top over the entire, or nearly entire, surface area of said top.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A stringed musical instrument of the lute type having a hollow body consisting of a top, a back and sides, a neck, strings tuned to increasing pitches from low on one side to high on the other side running generally parallel to said neck and terminating on a bridge attached to the top, the improvement comprising said bridge being also flexibly attached to a structure of at least one brace extending between said sides, neck or tailblock, said brace structure being separate from said top leaving a space between said brace structure and said top over the entire, or nearly entire, surface area of said top.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 in which a bridge plate is rigidly attached to said top underneath said bridge and in addition said bridge plate is rotatably attached to said brace structure at least two points which are along the intersection of said bridge plate and the plane bisecting the instrument, so that the bridge plate is free to rotate about an axis extending between said two points.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as claimed in claim 2 in which some of said braces are attached to both said top at their extremes near said sides and to said sides in order to obtain a better bond between said top and said sides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention as claimed in claim 2 in which the thickness of said bridge plate varies monotonically from side to side in a direction perpendicular to said strings so that its mass is largest at the side where the lowest tuned string terminates and smallest where the highest tuned string terminates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US1764679A
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US3443465A
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US3605545A
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US3656395A
Cited
US3685385A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-30 | 1978-12-30 | 1979-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-30 | 1982-12-30 | 1983-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-30 | 1986-12-30 | 1987-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |