US4509399A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vibration damper for string musical instrument
Assignee: Coats and Clark Inc
•
Filing: 1983-03-01
•
Granted: 1985-04-09
•
Expires: 2003-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A plastic damper for attachment to a vibrating piano wire, the damper consisting of a single piece part having an end slot for turning by a screwdriver, and communicating peripheral slits for receiving the piano wire. One end of each peripheral slit has a slightly greater width than the rest of the slit, so that the piano wire can be inserted through this end of the slit, and locked against the damper by rotating it with a screwdriver, so that the relatively narrow major part of the slit "twist-locks" against the wire; the slight resiliency of the plastic facilitating the "twist-lock" action.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry McKibben
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:30
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10C; G10C9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A vibration damper for a musical instrument having a vibratory string with a given diameter, comprising: a cylindrical body comprising a yieldable material, one end of said body having means for receiving a tool to rotate said body about the longitudinal axis thereof, said body having a pair of substantially coplanar oppositely disposed slits in the surface thereof, each slit having a width less than the diameter of a string to be secured therein, each slit subtending a radial angle greater than 90 degrees, said slits communicating with each other through a cavity in said body capable of receiving said string, one end of each slit being enlarged to a diameter greater than the diameter of said string to be secured, the enlarged ends of said slits being disposed 180 degrees apart, whereby said string may be inserted through said enlarged ends of said slits and said cavity, and thereafter said body may be rotated by engagement of a tool with said one end thereof, to cause said string to yieldably deform said body adjacent the edges of said slits, so that said string is secured to said body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A vibration damper for a musical instrument having a vibratory string with a given diameter, comprising: a cylindrical body comprising a yieldable material, one end of said body having means for receiving a tool to rotate said body about the longitudinal axis thereof, said body having a pair of substantially coplanar oppositely disposed slits in the surface thereof, each slit having a width less than the diameter of a string to be secured therein, each slit subtending a radial angle greater than 90 degrees, said slits communicating with each other through a cavity in said body capable of receiving said string, one end of each slit being enlarged to a diameter greater than the diameter of said string to be secured, the enlarged ends of said slits being disposed 180 degrees apart, whereby said string may be inserted through said enlarged ends of said slits and said cavity, and thereafter said body may be rotated by engagement of a tool with said one end thereof, to cause said string to yieldably deform said body adjacent the edges of said slits, so that said string is secured to said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The damper according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical body comprises a moldable resiliently yieldable plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The damper according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The damper according to claim 1, wherein each slit subtends a radial angle in the range of 95 to 110 degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The damper accordingly to claim 1, wherein said tool receiving means comprises a transverse slot in said one end of said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The damper according to claim 1, wherein the other end of said body opposite said tool receiving end has a plurality of ridges thereon, further comprising a pad of a vibration-absorbing material secured to said other end of said body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1371506A
Cited
US1392244A
Cited
US1859553A
Cited
US1849463A
Cited
US3971287A
Cited
US4332184A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-04-08 | 1988-10-08 | 1989-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-08 | 1992-10-08 | 1993-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-08 | 1996-10-08 | 1997-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |