Patent US4763555A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4763555A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tremolo unit mechanism for electric guitar
Assignee: Yamaha Corp
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Filing: 1987-04-24
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Granted: 1988-08-16
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Expires: 2007-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A tremolo unit mechanism for an electric guitar includes a bridge base vertically disposed to be pivotal about a support point on a body, balancing springs for causing a balance moment along a direction opposite to that of a moment due to a tension of strings to act on the bridge base, bridge main bodies, disposed on the bridge base, for holding one end of each of the strings, octave adjusting screws, threadably engaged with the bridge base, for moving the bridge base along a front-to-rear direction, a tremolo arm, mounted in the bridge base, for moving the bridge base vertically, and a control mechanism for controlling pivotal movement of the bridge base. The control mechanism includes an engaging member for engaging with the bridge base and a screw member for controlling pivotal movement/displacement of the engaging member.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiyoshi Minakuchi
- 👤 Junji Tomita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:06
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D3/00; G10D3/14; G10D3/147; G10D3/153
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A tremolo unit mechanism for an electric guitar, comprising: a bridge base vertically disposed pivotally about a support point on a body; balancing springs causing a balance moment along a direction opposite to a moment due to a tension of strings to act on said bridge base; bridge main bodies, disposed on said bridge base, for holding one end of each of the strings; octave adjusting screws, threadably engaged with said bridge base, for moving said bridge main bodies along a front-to-rear direction; a tremolo arm, mounted on said bridge base, for moving said bridge base vertically; and a stopper mechanism for preventing pivotal movement of said bridge base toward said body, wherein said stopper mechanism is constituted by a height adjusting screw rotatably disposed with respect to said body and a control member threadably engaged with said height adjusting screw to move up and down and having an abutment portion to abut against a lower surface of said bridge base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A tremolo unit mechanism for an electric guitar, comprising: a bridge base vertically disposed pivotally about a support point on a body; balancing springs causing a balance moment along a direction opposite to a moment due to a tension of strings to act on said bridge base; bridge main bodies, disposed on said bridge base, for holding one end of each of the strings; octave adjusting screws, threadably engaged with said bridge base, for moving said bridge main bodies along a front-to-rear direction; a tremolo arm, mounted on said bridge base, for moving said bridge base vertically; and a stopper mechanism for preventing pivotal movement of said bridge base toward said body, wherein said stopper mechanism is constituted by a height adjusting screw rotatably disposed with respect to said body and a control member threadably engaged with said height adjusting screw to move up and down and having an abutment portion to abut against a lower surface of said bridge base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said height adjusting screw is rotatably disposed with respect to said body, said control member is moved up and down along with rotation of said height adjusting screw, and part of said control member is engaged with said bridge base to control its pivotal movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said part of said control member is engaged with said bridge base through a damper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
167 words
A tremolo unit mechanism for an electric guitar comprising: a bridge base vertically disposed pivotally about a support point of a body; bridge main bodies, disposed on said bridge base, for holding one end of each of strings; balancing springs, each having one end connected to a corresponding one of said bridge main bodies and the other end connected to said bridge base, for causing a balance moment along a direction opposite to that of a moment due to a tension of the strings to act on said bridge base; and a lock mechanism for locking said bridge base at a given pivotal position, wherein said lock mechanism is constituted by a control member pivotally connected at one end to a position spaced apart from a pivotal center of said bridge base, a control member support member, pivotally supported, for slidably supporting the other end of said control member, and fixing means for fixing the other end of said control member to said control member support member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
167 words
A tremolo unit mechanism for an electric guitar comprising: a bridge base vertically disposed pivotally about a support point of a body; bridge main bodies, disposed on said bridge base, for holding one end of each of strings; balancing springs, each having one end connected to a corresponding one of said bridge main bodies and the other end connected to said bridge base, for causing a balance moment along a direction opposite to that of a moment due to a tension of the strings to act on said bridge base; and a lock mechanism for locking said bridge base at a given pivotal position, wherein said lock mechanism is constituted by a control member pivotally connected at one end to a position spaced apart from a pivotal center of said bridge base, a control member support member, pivotally supported, for slidably supporting the other end of said control member, and fixing means for fixing the other end of said control member to said control member support member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said control member is a shaft pivotally connected at one end to said bridge base, said lock mechanism has a shaft support member for slidably and pivotally supporting said shaft, and said fixing means consists of a screw member and controls movement of said shaft support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said screw member is rotatably disposed with respect to said body, and a lever is fixed at the upper end of said screw member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
142 words
A tremolo unit mechanism for an electric guitar, comprising: a bridge base vertically disposed to be pivotal about a support point on a body; balancing springs for causing a balance moment along a direction opposite to that of a moment due to a tension of strings to act on said bridge base; bridge main bodies, disposed on said bridge base, for holding one end of each of the strings; octave adjusting screws, threadably engaged with said bridge base, for moving said bridge base along a front-to-rear direction; a tremolo arm, mounted in said bridge base, for moving said bridge base vertically; and a control mechanism for controlling pivotal movement of said bridge base, wherein said control mechanism includes an engaging member for engaging with said bridge base and a screw member for controlling pivotal movement or pivotal displacement of said engaging member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
A tremolo unit mechanism for an electric guitar, comprising: a bridge base vertically disposed to be pivotal about a support point on a body; balancing springs for causing a balance moment along a direction opposite to that of a moment due to a tension of strings to act on said bridge base; bridge main bodies, disposed on said bridge base, for holding one end of each of the strings; octave adjusting screws, threadably engaged with said bridge base, for moving said bridge base along a front-to-rear direction; a tremolo arm, mounted in said bridge base, for moving said bridge base vertically; and a control mechanism for controlling pivotal movement of said bridge base, wherein said control mechanism includes an engaging member for engaging with said bridge base and a screw member for controlling pivotal movement or pivotal displacement of said engaging member.
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) | 1991-08-16 | 1992-02-15 | 1992-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-16 | 1996-02-15 | 1996-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-16 | 2000-02-15 | 2000-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |