US4915006A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Support for defining an end point of the vibrating portion of the strings of a stringed musical instrument
Assignee: Bank of America NA
•
Filing: 1989-01-18
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Granted: 1990-04-10
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Expires: 2009-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A support for defining an end point of the vibrating portion of the strings of a stringed musical instrument comprises a base having a slot with walls which converge to an apex line. At least one rocker has walls which converge to a knife edge complementary to the apex line, where the angle between the walls of the base is larger than the angle between the walls of the rocker to allow the rocker to rock in the slot while the knife edge engages the apex line. The rocker has an arc-shaped surface centered at the knife edge for contacting at least one of the strings and moving with the string in a direction along the length of the string while maintaining the end point of the vibrating position of the string at a constant position relative to the base in the direction along the length of the string.
Inventors
- 👤 Ned Steinberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:06
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D3/00; G10D3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A support for defining an end point of the vibrating portion of the strings of a stringed musical instrument comprising: a base having a slot with walls which converge to an apex line; and at least one rocker having walls which converge to a knife edge complementary to the apex line, the angle between the walls of the base being larger than the angle between the walls of the rocker to allow the rocker to rock in the slot while the knife edge engages the apex line, said at least one rocker having contacting means for contacting at least one of said strings and moving with said at least one string in a direction along the length of said at least one string while maintaining the end point of the vibrating portion of said at least one string at a constant position relative to the base in the direction along the length of said at least one string.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A support for defining an end point of the vibrating portion of the strings of a stringed musical instrument comprising: a base having a slot with walls which converge to an apex line; and at least one rocker having walls which converge to a knife edge complementary to the apex line, the angle between the walls of the base being larger than the angle between the walls of the rocker to allow the rocker to rock in the slot while the knife edge engages the apex line, said at least one rocker having contacting means for contacting at least one of said strings and moving with said at least one string in a direction along the length of said at least one string while maintaining the end point of the vibrating portion of said at least one string at a constant position relative to the base in the direction along the length of said at least one string.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The support of claim 1 wherein the contacting means of the rocker includes an arc-shaped surface centered at the knife edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The support of claim 1 wherein the knife edge includes a plurality of knife-edge portions aligned in a direction along the apex line and separated by a space portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The support of claim 1 wherein the base includes means for engaging the rocker and for preventing movement of the rocker in a direction along the apex line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The support of claim 4 wherein the knife edge includes a plurality of knife-edge portions separated by a space portion and wherein the means for engaging the rocker and for preventing movement of the rocker includes a ball bearing which is mounted in the base and which extends into the space portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The support of claim 1 further including housing means for retaining the rocker in the slot of the base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The support of claim 6 wherein the housing means includes a groove means for slideably receiving the base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The support of claim 1 wherein the contacting means of the rocker includes a groove in the direction along the length of the string for receiving and positioning the string.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
170 words
A support for defining an end point of the vibrating portion of the strings of a stringed musical instrument comprising: a base having a slot with walls which converge to an apex line; and a plurality of rocker elements, each of said rocker elements for engaging a respective string on the musical instrument, each of said rocker elements having walls which converge to a knife edge complementary to the apex line, the angle between the walls of the base being larger than the angle between the walls of each of the rocker elements to allow the rocker elements to rock in the slot while the knife edge engages the apex line, each of the rocker elements having contacting means for contacting its respective string and moving with its respective string in a direction along the length of the string while maintaining the end point of the vibrating portion of its respective string at a constant position relative to the base in the direction along the length of its respective string.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
170 words
A support for defining an end point of the vibrating portion of the strings of a stringed musical instrument comprising: a base having a slot with walls which converge to an apex line; and a plurality of rocker elements, each of said rocker elements for engaging a respective string on the musical instrument, each of said rocker elements having walls which converge to a knife edge complementary to the apex line, the angle between the walls of the base being larger than the angle between the walls of each of the rocker elements to allow the rocker elements to rock in the slot while the knife edge engages the apex line, each of the rocker elements having contacting means for contacting its respective string and moving with its respective string in a direction along the length of the string while maintaining the end point of the vibrating portion of its respective string at a constant position relative to the base in the direction along the length of its respective string.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The support of claim 9 wherein the contacting means of the rocker elements includes an arc-shaped surface centered at the knife edge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The support of claim 9 wherein the knife edge includes a plurality of knife-edge portions aligned in a direction along the apex line and separated by a space portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The support of claim 9 wherein the base includes means for engaging the rocker elements and for preventing movement of the rocker elements in a direction along the apex line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The support of claim 12 wherein the knife edge includes a plurality of knife-edge portions separated by a space portion and wherein the means for engaging the rocker elements and for preventing movement of the rocker elements includes a ball bearing which is mounted in the base and which extends into the space portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The support of claim 9 further including housing means for retaining the rocker in the slot of the base.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The support of claim 14 wherein the housing means includes a groove means for slideably receiving the base.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The support of claim 9 wherein the contacting means of the rocker elements includes a groove in the direction along the length of the respective string for receiving and positioning the string.
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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) | 1993-04-09 | 1993-10-09 | 1994-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-09 | 1997-10-09 | 1998-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-09 | 2001-10-09 | 2002-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |