Patent US4004482A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4004482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of tuning fretted instruments
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-09-25
•
Granted: 1977-01-25
•
Expires: 1995-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A method for tuning a fretted string instrument such, for example, as a guitar, by the use of a tuning fork of predetermined pitch by positioning a vibrating tuning fork on the string to be tuned and then adjusting the tension of the string until the vibrating tuning fork causes an audible sympathetic resonance of the string when the tuning fork is at a position where the pitch of the tuning fork and pitch of the string (as determined by the fret scale of the instrument) coincide.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffery L. Yates
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:28
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10G; G10G7/00; G10G7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of tuning a fretted string instrument, such, for example, as a guitar comprising the following steps: placing the end of a vibrating tuning fork of predetermined pitch in contact with a string to be tuned; sliding the vibrating tuning fork along the string until the pitch of the vibrating tuning fork becomes audible; adjusting the tension of the string being tuned until the pitch of the tuning fork becomes audible at the coincident point, that is, the point at which sympathetic resonance takes place when the string being tuned is at its proper pitch.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of tuning a fretted string instrument, such, for example, as a guitar comprising the following steps: placing the end of a vibrating tuning fork of predetermined pitch in contact with a string to be tuned; sliding the vibrating tuning fork along the string until the pitch of the vibrating tuning fork becomes audible; adjusting the tension of the string being tuned until the pitch of the tuning fork becomes audible at the coincident point, that is, the point at which sympathetic resonance takes place when the string being tuned is at its proper pitch.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of tuning a fretted string instrument, such, for example, as a guitar comprising the steps of: determining the pitch of an open string on the instrument; selecting a tuning fork with a pitch higher than that of the open string to be tuned; exciting the tuning fork into vibrating motion; placing the tuning fork in contact with the string to be tuned at that position where the pitch of the tuning fork and the pitch of the string as determined by the fret scale of the instrument should coincide if the string is in tune; sliding the vibrating tuning fork along the string and in contact therewith until the pitch of the tuning fork becomes audible; re-exciting the tuning fork, if necessary, and then placing the tuning fork back at the coincident point (the tuning fret); adjusting the tension of the string until the pitch of the fork becomes audible at the coincident point (the tuning fret) which indicates that the string is in tune.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of tuning a fretted string instrument, such, for example, as a guitar comprising the steps of: determining the pitch of an open string on the instrument; selecting a tuning fork with a pitch higher than that of the open string to be tuned; exciting the tuning fork into vibrating motion; placing the tuning fork in contact with the string to be tuned at that position where the pitch of the tuning fork and the pitch of the string as determined by the fret scale of the instrument should coincide if the string is in tune; sliding the vibrating tuning fork along the string and in contact therewith until the pitch of the tuning fork becomes audible; re-exciting the tuning fork, if necessary, and then placing the tuning fork back at the coincident point (the tuning fret); adjusting the tension of the string until the pitch of the fork becomes audible at the coincident point (the tuning fret) which indicates that the string is in tune.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of tuning a fretted string instrument using a tuning fork comprising the following steps: exciting a tuning fork of predetermined pitch into vibrating motion; placing the vibrating tuning fork in contact with the string to be tuned at a tuning fret for said string; and adjusting the tension of said string until the pitch of the excited tuning fork becomes audible at the tuning fret.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of tuning a fretted string instrument using a tuning fork comprising the following steps: exciting a tuning fork of predetermined pitch into vibrating motion; placing the vibrating tuning fork in contact with the string to be tuned at a tuning fret for said string; and adjusting the tension of said string until the pitch of the excited tuning fork becomes audible at the tuning fret.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 3 including initially sliding the vibrating tuning fork back and forth on said string to determine whether the tension of said string needs to be increased or decreased to bring it into tune.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the tuning fork is touched to the string at a point where the pitch of the tuning fork and a lower multiple of that pitch along the string coincide so that the string vibrates in two ventral segments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the tuning fork is touched to the string at a point where the pitch of the tuning fork and the pitch of the fretted note along the string coincide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US890803A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-25 | 1980-07-26 | 1981-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-25 | 1984-07-26 | 1985-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-25 | 1988-07-26 | 1989-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |