Patent US4567805A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4567805A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Compliant bridge transducer for rigid body string musical instruments
Assignee: ABLE-TECH Inc 69 BLUXOME STREET SAN FRANCISCO CA A CORP OF CA
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Filing: 1984-01-17
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Granted: 1986-02-04
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Expires: 2004-01-17
Abstract
Abstract An improved bridge transducer for rigid non-acoustic body string musical instruments, enabling production of tonal character and quality associated with flexible acoustic body instruments using a novel compliant suspension supporting a string bridge, which is equally responsive to plucked or bowed strings, is interactive with the strings in a manner similar to acoustic body supported bridges, while eliminating problems of diminished string sustain, and air coupled loud speaker feedback, uneven frequency response, and is economical to manufacture. A sound pickup device is coupled to the suspended string bridge for detection and amplification of motion induced by played strings.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin R. Clevinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:38
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H3/00; G10H3/12; G10H3/14; G10H3/18; G10H3/185; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/461; G10H2220/465; G10H2220/471; G10H2220/495; G10H2220/501; G10H2220/525; G10H2220/541; G10H2220/555; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An improved string instrument of the type having a plurality of strings that are tensioned across a body and which can be set into motion by bowing or plucking, the improvement comprising a compliant bridge pickup including bridge span means for supporting the strings and for transmitting the motion of the strings; means for compliantly supporting the bridge span means relative to the body which includes a folded suspension structure connected between the bridge span means and the body; and transducer means coupled to the bridge span means for receiving the transmitted string motion and for converting it into an electrical signal which is suitable for conversion into sound.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An improved string instrument of the type having a plurality of strings that are tensioned across a body and which can be set into motion by bowing or plucking, the improvement comprising a compliant bridge pickup including bridge span means for supporting the strings and for transmitting the motion of the strings; means for compliantly supporting the bridge span means relative to the body which includes a folded suspension structure connected between the bridge span means and the body; and transducer means coupled to the bridge span means for receiving the transmitted string motion and for converting it into an electrical signal which is suitable for conversion into sound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved string instrument of claim 1 wherein the bridge span means are formed to be substantially rigid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improved string instrument of claim 1 wherein the bridge span means comprise crown means for transversely supporting the strings in a predetermined formation; and arch means for supporting the crown means, said arch means being mechanically coupled to the crown means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improved string instrument of claim 3, wherein the crown means comprise an extended ridge-shaped member having string contact surfaces which are contoured to support the strings in the predetermined formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improved string instrument of claim 4 wherein said extended ridge-shaped member comprises a plurality of sections, wherein each section is associated with one of the strings and supports its associated string with respect to the arch means, and each section further including means for adjusting the distance of the associated string from the arch means, so that the plurality of sections collectively define the contact surface of the ridge-shaped member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improved string instrument of claim 4, wherein said extended ridge-shaped member has a thickness which is smallest in the vicinity of the string contact surface and largest in the vicinity of the arch means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improved string instrument of claim 1, wherein the compliant supporting means is shaped and constructed to be compliant so as to store energy from the transmitted string motion, and further wherein the compliant supporting means returns the stored energy to the bridge span means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved string instrument of claim 7 wherein the compliant supporting means further include means for anchoring the compliant support means to the body which anchoring means are substantially non-compliant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improved string instrument of claim 8, wherein the anchoring means comprise a substantially non-compliant base span which supports the compliant supporting means; and means disposed between the base span and the body for adjusting the distance of the bridge span from the body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved string instrument of claim 7, wherein the compliant supporting means are shaped to suspend the bridge span means relative to the body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
The improved string instrument of claim 10, wherein the compliant supporting means comprise first and second arch-shaped members, each member having a short leg and a long leg and further wherein the short leg of each member is secured to the bridge span means and the long leg of each member is mounted on the body so that the bridge span means are suspended by the first and second arch-shaped members relative to the body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improved string instrument of claim 11, wherein the arch-shaped members have a uniform thickness and further wherein the legs of the arch are positioned substantially parallel with respect to one another and separated by a distance which is substantially equal to the thickness of the arch-shaped members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The improved string instrument of claim 7, wherein the compliant supporting means include first and second "U"-shaped members, each member having a first leg which is secured to the bridge span means and a second leg which is secured to the body, the length of the first and second legs being selected so that the bridge span means are suspended relative to the body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
The improved string instrument of claim 13, wherein the string motion lies within an audible acoustic frequency range and further wherein each "U"-shaped member has a length which is less than the wavelengths of any of the frequencies in the audible acoustic frequency range so that substantially uninhibited motion of the moveable member is permitted, which motion is analogous to the acoustic motion of the associated strings in the audible acoustic frequency range, and so as to avoid resonances in the moveable member within the audible acoustic frequency range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved string instrument of claim 14, wherein the length of each "U"-shaped member is less than one-half the wavelength of the highest frequency in the audible acoustic frequency range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved string instrument of claim 1 wherein the transducer means comprise a magnetic transducer coupled between the bridge span means and the body to sense the differential motion of the bridge span means in relation to the body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improved string instrument of claim 16 wherein the transducer means comprise magnet means coupled to the bridge span means for movement therewith for generating a magnetic field which varies in accordance with the transmitted string motion; and coil means positioned with respect to the magnet means for converting the magnetic field into the electrical signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
The improved string instrument of claim 1 wherein the transducer means comprise means fixed in position with respect to the body for converting variations in pressure into electrical signals; and coupling means sandwiched between the converting means and the bridge span means for transmitting the string motion to the converting means by applying pressure to the converting means which pressure varies in accordance with the string motion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improved string instrument of claim 18 wherein the converting means include a piezo electric crystal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improved string instrument of claim 19, wherein the coupling means include a pill-shaped member which is constructed from a resilient material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improved string instrument of claim 20, wherein the pill-shaped member has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the piezo electric crystal so as to eliminate generation of out-of-phase signals within the crystal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
107 words
A bridge pick-up for use in string instruments of the type having a plurality of strings that are tensioned across a body and which can be set into motion by bowing or plucking, the pick-up comprising bridge span means for supporting the strings and for transmitting the motion of the strings; means for compliantly supporting the bridge span means relative to the body including a folded suspension structure connected to the bridge span means and the body; and transducer means coupled to the bridge span means for receiving the transmitted string motion and for converting it into an electrical signal which is suitable for conversion into sound.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
107 words
A bridge pick-up for use in string instruments of the type having a plurality of strings that are tensioned across a body and which can be set into motion by bowing or plucking, the pick-up comprising bridge span means for supporting the strings and for transmitting the motion of the strings; means for compliantly supporting the bridge span means relative to the body including a folded suspension structure connected to the bridge span means and the body; and transducer means coupled to the bridge span means for receiving the transmitted string motion and for converting it into an electrical signal which is suitable for conversion into sound.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pick-up of claim 22 wherein the bridge span means are formed to be substantially rigid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
pick-up of claim 22 wherein the bridge span means comprise crown means for transversely supporting the strings in a predetermined formation; and arch means for supporting the crown means, said arch means mechanically contacting the crown means along the convex surface of the arch means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pick-up of claim 24, wherein the crown means comprise an extended ridge-shaped member having string contact surfaces which are contoured to support the strings in the predetermined formation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
69 words
The pick-up of claim 25 wherein said extended ridge-shaped member comprises a plurality of sections, wherein each section is associated with one of the strings and supports its associated string with respect to the arch means, and each section further including means for adjusting the displacement of the associated string from the arch means, so that the plurality of sections collectively define the contact surface of the ridge-shaped member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
The pick-up of claim 22, wherein the compliant supporting means are shaped and constructed to be compliant so as to store energy from the transmitted string motion with minimum energy loss, and further wherein the compliant supporting means returns the stored energy to the bridge span means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pick-up of claim 27, wherein the compliant supporting means are shaped to suspend the bridge span means relative to the body.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
73 words
The pick-up of claim 28, wherein the compliant supporting means comprise first and second arch-shaped members, each member having a short leg and a long leg and further wherein the short leg of each member is secured to the bridge span means and the long leg of each member is mounted on the body so that the bridge span means are suspended by the first and second archshaped members relative to the body.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
62 words
The pick-up of claim 27, wherein the compliant supporting means include first and second "U"-shaped members, each member having a first leg which is secured to the bridge span means and a second leg which is secured to the body, the length of the first and second legs being selected so that the bridge span means are suspended relative to the body.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
86 words
The pick-up of claim 30, wherein the string motion lies within an acoustic frequency range and further wherein each "U"-shaped member has a length which is less than the wavelengths of any of the frequencies in the audible acoustic frequency range so that substantially uninhibited motion of the moveable member is permitted, which motion is analogous to the acoustic motion of the associated strings in the audible acoustic frequency range, and so as to avoid resonances in the moveable member within the audible acoustic frequency range.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
65 words
The pick-up of claim 22 wherein the transducer means comprise means fixed in position with respect to the body for converting variations in pressure into electrical signals; and coupling means sandwiched between the converting means and the bridge span means for transmitting the string motion to the converting means by applying pressure to the converting means which pressure varies in accordance with the string motion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
125 words
An improved bridge for use in string instruments of the type having a plurality of strings that are tensioned across a body and which can be set into motion by bowing or plucking, and pickup means for converting the string motion into electrical signals, the improvement comprising bridge span means for supporting the strings and for transmitting the motion of the strings; means for compliantly supporting the bridge span means relative to the body including a folded suspension structure connected to the bridge span means and the body, wherein the compliant supporting means are shaped and constructed so as to be compliant to store energy from the transmitted string motion with low energy loss, and to return the stored energy to the bridge span means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
125 words
An improved bridge for use in string instruments of the type having a plurality of strings that are tensioned across a body and which can be set into motion by bowing or plucking, and pickup means for converting the string motion into electrical signals, the improvement comprising bridge span means for supporting the strings and for transmitting the motion of the strings; means for compliantly supporting the bridge span means relative to the body including a folded suspension structure connected to the bridge span means and the body, wherein the compliant supporting means are shaped and constructed so as to be compliant to store energy from the transmitted string motion with low energy loss, and to return the stored energy to the bridge span means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improved bridge of claim 33 wherein the mass of the compliant supporting means is small relative to the mass of the bridge span means and the compliant supporting means are constructed of material having uniform physical consistency so as to minimize energy loss and to maximize string sustain.
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) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |