Patent US4397212A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4397212A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination guitar vibrato and pitch control
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-01-19
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Granted: 1983-08-09
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Expires: 2001-01-19
Abstract
Abstract Musician controlled relative motion between a generally standard stringed musical instrument (such as a Spanish guitar) and a false body hinged to the generally standard stringed instrument permits versatile control by the musician of the tension in one or more strings to produce both vibrato sounds and/or sustained pitch changes (both higher and lower pitches). The invention eliminates limitations of prior art which employed relative motion between neck and body of an otherwise generally standard stringed musical instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Carson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:03
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D3/00; G10D3/14; G10D3/147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
In a stringed instrument having a head, a neck, a body rigidly connected to the neck on which is mounted a bridge, and a plurality of strings each connected at one end to said head and extending along said neck over said bridge, the improvement comprising: an instrument supporting, rigid frame positioned exterior of said instrument and mounted thereto by a pivot substantially perpendicular to a plane generally containing said strings, at least some selected strings being connected at their other ends to a part of the frame functioning as a lever arm, another part of the frame functioning as a torque balancing means for torques due to the movement of the instrument with respect to the frame in both directions in said plane about said pivot whereby the natural swinging movement of the instrument, by the musician during playing, about said pivot relative to the frame will vary the length, and therefore the tension on the selected strings to produce sustained pitch changes and/or desired vibrato sounds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a stringed instrument having a head, a neck, a body rigidly connected to the neck on which is mounted a bridge, and a plurality of strings each connected at one end to said head and extending along said neck over said bridge, the improvement comprising: an instrument supporting, rigid frame positioned exterior of said instrument and mounted thereto by a pivot substantially perpendicular to a plane generally containing said strings, at least some selected strings being connected at their other ends to a part of the frame functioning as a lever arm, another part of the frame functioning as a torque balancing means for torques due to the movement of the instrument with respect to the frame in both directions in said plane about said pivot whereby the natural swinging movement of the instrument, by the musician during playing, about said pivot relative to the frame will vary the length, and therefore the tension on the selected strings to produce sustained pitch changes and/or desired vibrato sounds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said frame has a configuration generally conforming to the body shape of a conventional stringed instrument.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said frame is provided with torque balancing means for the musician in both a sitting and standing position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein biasing means are provided between the instrument and the frame to establish a predetermined relative neutral position therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein guide means are provided between the body and the frame to assist the pivot in maintaining the rectilinear movement therebetween in said plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said lever arm has a plurality of individual string attaching means greater in number than the number of selected strings to provide different tension adjusting positions which are adjusted to maintain a chosen relative pitch among said selected strings during a sustained pitch changes and/or vibrato actuations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein some of the attaching means are laterally offset from their respective strings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
A supporting structure for a stringed instrument for producing a vibrato and/or sustained pitch sounds comprising: a rigid frame lying exterior of said instrument; a pivot for rotatably connecting the instrument to the frame, said pivot lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane generally containing the strings of said instrument; said frame having a torque balancing means to limit the movement of the frame when the musician moves the instrument to produce the vibrato and/or sustained pitch changes; means on said frame for anchoring the ends of selected strings; whereby a relative swinging motion of the instrument by the musician with respect to the frame will change the tension on said selected strings to produce the desired sounds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
A supporting structure for a stringed instrument for producing a vibrato and/or sustained pitch sounds comprising: a rigid frame lying exterior of said instrument; a pivot for rotatably connecting the instrument to the frame, said pivot lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane generally containing the strings of said instrument; said frame having a torque balancing means to limit the movement of the frame when the musician moves the instrument to produce the vibrato and/or sustained pitch changes; means on said frame for anchoring the ends of selected strings; whereby a relative swinging motion of the instrument by the musician with respect to the frame will change the tension on said selected strings to produce the desired sounds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The supporting structure of claim 8 wherein said frame is provided with a plurality of spaced guide means for assisting the pivot in maintaining a rectilinear movement of the instrument in said plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The supporting structure of claim 8 wherein said frame has a configuration approximating the configuration of a conventional stringed instrument body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The supporting structure of claim 8 on which a vertically adjustable arm is mounted for each of the selected strings connected between a bridge and the frame to maintain a chosen relative pitch among said selected strings during sustained pitch changes and/or vibrato actuations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The supporting structure of claim 8 wherein biasing means are provided between the instrument and the frame to establish a predetermined relative neutral position therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The supporting structure of claim 8 wherein said anchoring means in said frame is a lever arm extending substantially normal to said strings, said lever arm having a plurality of individual string attaching means greater in number than the number of selected strings to provide different tension adjusting positions which are adjusted to maintain a chosen relative pitch among the selected strings during sustained pitch changes and/or vibrato sounds.
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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) | 1986-08-08 | 1987-02-07 | 1987-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-08 | 1991-02-07 | 1991-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-08 | 1995-02-07 | 1995-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |