Patent US3910151A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3910151A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stringed musical instrument
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-03-18
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible stringed musical instrument which includes a rigid body section and a collapsible body section having a foldable neck hingedly connected to the rigid body section. A tensioning device is pivotally mounted on the rigid body section and to collapse the musical instrument, the tensioning device is pivoted upwardly, away from the rigid body section to simultaneously release the tension on all of the strings so that the foldable neck may be collapsed. In addition, the collapsible body section includes two assemblies which may be collapsed into flat configurations adjacent the sides of the rigid body section. To erect the musical instrument from its collapsed configuration, the neck is folded into its playing position and the tensioning device is pivoted into contact with the rigid body section which simultaneously returns the strings to their original tension and tuning. In addition, the collapsible assemblies are erected and simulate the shape and size of a conventional body.
Inventors
- 👤 Leigh Copeland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:31
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D1/00; G10D1/04; G10D1/05; G10D1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A collapsible stringed musical instrument comprising a body including a rigid section, a neck section, means for pivotally connecting said neck section to said rigid section, a collapsible section connected to said rigid section, a tensioning device movably mounted on said rigid section, means for tuning said strings, said strings being connected between said neck section and said tensioning device, said tensioning device being movable between a first position in which said strings are under tension and a second position in which said string tension is released, said neck section being movable between a playing position when said strings are under tension and a collapsed position when said string tension is released, said collapsible section cooperating with said neck section to move between a playing position and a collapsed position to permit playing of the stringed instrument and to permit the stringed instrument to be reduced to a compact shape, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A collapsible stringed musical instrument comprising a body including a rigid section, a neck section, means for pivotally connecting said neck section to said rigid section, a collapsible section connected to said rigid section, a tensioning device movably mounted on said rigid section, means for tuning said strings, said strings being connected between said neck section and said tensioning device, said tensioning device being movable between a first position in which said strings are under tension and a second position in which said string tension is released, said neck section being movable between a playing position when said strings are under tension and a collapsed position when said string tension is released, said collapsible section cooperating with said neck section to move between a playing position and a collapsed position to permit playing of the stringed instrument and to permit the stringed instrument to be reduced to a compact shape, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The collapsible stringed musical instrument of claim 1 wherein said collapsible section includes a plurality of movable frame elements, at least one of said frame elements being movable between a first position in which one or more of the other frame elements is held in an erect configuration and a second position in which one or more of the frame elements is in a collapsed configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
134 words
A collapsible stringed musical instrument comprising a body including a rigid section, a neck section connected to said rigid section forwardly thereof, a tensioning device mounted on said rigid section for movement about an axis, means for securing one end of said instrument strings to said neck section, means for securing the opposite end of said instrument strings to said tensioning device, said strings extending from said neck section rearwardly past and beneath said axis to said tensioning device, means for tuning said strings, said tensioning device being movable about said axis between a first position in which said strings are under tension and said axis is above said strings and a second position in which said string is released after passing through a third position in which said strings are under maximum tension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
134 words
A collapsible stringed musical instrument comprising a body including a rigid section, a neck section connected to said rigid section forwardly thereof, a tensioning device mounted on said rigid section for movement about an axis, means for securing one end of said instrument strings to said neck section, means for securing the opposite end of said instrument strings to said tensioning device, said strings extending from said neck section rearwardly past and beneath said axis to said tensioning device, means for tuning said strings, said tensioning device being movable about said axis between a first position in which said strings are under tension and said axis is above said strings and a second position in which said string is released after passing through a third position in which said strings are under maximum tension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The collapsible stringed musical instrument of claim 3 wherein said rigid section includes an inclined section extending rearwardly and downwardly from said axis for receiving said tensioning member when said tensioning member is in its first position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The stringed musical instrument of claim 3 wherein said tensioning member further includes a plurality of tuning pegs, said strings being coupled to the individual tuning pegs to that each string can be separately tuned.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The stringed musical instrument of claim 5 wherein said tensioning member has a V-shaped portion and each string passes around said V-shaped portion to its respective peg.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
179 words
A collapsible stringed musical instrument comprising a body including a rigid section, a neck section positioned forwardly of said rigid section and mounted for movement with respect to said rigid section, a combined tensioning and tuning device mounted on said rigid section for movement about an axis, means for securing the forward ends of said instrument strings to said neck section, means for securing the rearward ends of said instrument strings to said combined tensioning and tuning device, said instrument strings extending rearwardly from said neck section past and below said axis to said combined tensioning and tuning device, said tensioning and tuning device being movable between a first position in which said strings are below said axis and under tension and in position for the instrument to be played and a second position in which the rearward ends of said strings are above said axis and said string tension is released, said neck section being movable about said rigid section when said combined tensioning and tuning device is in said second position to collapse said stringed musical instrument.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
179 words
A collapsible stringed musical instrument comprising a body including a rigid section, a neck section positioned forwardly of said rigid section and mounted for movement with respect to said rigid section, a combined tensioning and tuning device mounted on said rigid section for movement about an axis, means for securing the forward ends of said instrument strings to said neck section, means for securing the rearward ends of said instrument strings to said combined tensioning and tuning device, said instrument strings extending rearwardly from said neck section past and below said axis to said combined tensioning and tuning device, said tensioning and tuning device being movable between a first position in which said strings are below said axis and under tension and in position for the instrument to be played and a second position in which the rearward ends of said strings are above said axis and said string tension is released, said neck section being movable about said rigid section when said combined tensioning and tuning device is in said second position to collapse said stringed musical instrument.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
The stringed musical instrument of claim 7 wherein said body further includes a collapsible section connected to said rigid section for cooperating with said neck section, said collapsible section having a first position in which a collapsible section extends outwardly from said body section and the instrument is ready to be played and a second collapsed position arranged to cooperate with said neck section so that when the collapsible and neck sections are in the second position said stringed musical instrument is formed into a compact configuration for storage and transport.
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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) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |