US4061069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chord locater for fretted musical instrument
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-10-13
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Granted: 1977-12-06
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Expires: 1996-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A device mounted on the fretboard of a stringed musical instrument for quickly locating and playing simple and complex chords. The device includes a keyboard having a plurality of reciprocable buttons arranged in adjacent rows along the frets overlying the strings of the instrument and longitudinally extending reciprocable keys in contact with a button in adjacent rows. Depression of individual buttons and keys with the fingers enables different simple and compound chords to be quickly located and played on the instrument by contact of shafts on the depressed buttons with the strings at different individual and combined locations on the fretboard.
Inventors
- 👤 Art H. Brackett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:03
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D3/00; G10D3/06; G10D3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A chord locater adapted to be mounted on the neck of a stringed and fretted musical instrument comprising: a keyboard; a plurality of reciprocable buttons mounted on said keyboard in rows adjacent the frets of the musical instrument, each of said buttons having a shaft overlying one of the strings of the instrument; and a plurality of longitudinally extending reciprocable bar keys on said keyboard having opposite ends in contact with a button in adjacent ones of said rows of buttons on said keyboard.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A chord locater adapted to be mounted on the neck of a stringed and fretted musical instrument comprising: a keyboard; a plurality of reciprocable buttons mounted on said keyboard in rows adjacent the frets of the musical instrument, each of said buttons having a shaft overlying one of the strings of the instrument; and a plurality of longitudinally extending reciprocable bar keys on said keyboard having opposite ends in contact with a button in adjacent ones of said rows of buttons on said keyboard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The chord locater of claim 1 wherein each of said buttons has a head provided with shoulders along opposite edges for supporting the end of a bar key.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The chord locater of claim 2 wherein said keyboard is hollow and includes an upper and lower substantially planar surface having alinged holes receiving the heads and shafts on each of said buttons, and a coil spring wound about the shaft of each of said buttons between said head and lower planar surface of said keyboard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The chord locater of claim 3 wherein said bar keys include a depending shaft integral therewith, a pin on the end of said bar key shaft extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said bar key shaft below said lower planar surface, and a coil spring wound about said bar key shaft between said pin and lower planar surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The chord locater of claim 4 wherein said bar key shaft is shorter than each of said button shafts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The chord locater of claim 5 wherein each of said button shafts includes a retaining pin extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft below said lower planar surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The chord locater of claim 6 wherein the terminal end of each of said button shafts includes a substantially V-shaped groove straddling said string.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-05 | 1981-06-06 | 1981-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-05 | 1985-06-06 | 1985-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-05 | 1989-06-06 | 1989-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |