US5097736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stringed instrument tuning device
Assignee: Intertune Inc
•
Filing: 1990-08-07
•
Granted: 1992-03-24
•
Expires: 2010-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A tuning device includes a tuner housing extending from a string instrument, such as a guitar, with an integral orthogonal threaded mounting portion mounted in a peg head aperture. A tuner rod extends concentrically through the tuner housing and has a distal end with a transverse interior passageway extending at the end of the housing. A loose clamping pin or screw extends concentrically in the tuning rod to the transverse passageway. After a string end is pushed through the passageway and drawn taut a lock knob or the hex-headed screw at the tuner rod opposite end is threaded into the tuner rod forcing a separate or integral clamping pin against the taut end of the string and to clamp the string in the transverse passageway. An internally threaded tuning knob adjacent to lock knob or hex-headed screw is rotatable on outer threads of the tuner rod at its proximal end to move the tuner rod longitudinally inward in the tuner housing pulling with it the clamped string. This action tensions the string to the proper desired pitch. Flattened portions on the tuning rod and tuner housing permits non-rotative longitudinally movement of the tuner rod. A guide disc on the tuner device adjacent the passageway guides the string into the passageway initially during the tuning. Spacers are provided under a flange on the mounting portion to assure that the strings exit at a proper angle to the guitar finger board.
Inventors
- 👤 William T. Turner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:07
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D3/00; G10D3/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/21; Y10T24/2164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A stringed instrument tuning device wherein said instrument includes an apertured peg head, said device comprising: a tuner housing having a tubular portion positionable exteriorly of a peg head aperture; means extending from said tubular portion for positioning said device in an aperture of said peg head; a cylindrical tuner rod extending within said housing tubular portion and having an externally threaded first end section; string clamping means extending through said tuner rod first end section for clamping an instrument string in said housing adjacent a tuner rod second end section, said tuning rod second end section including a transverse passageway for reception of an end of said string; said clamping means having a distal end portion positioned to clamp said string end, and a lock means operably extending into a first end of said tuner housing for moving said distal end portion of said clamping means into a string clamping position; and a rotatable tuning knob exterior of said housing and threadably connected to said tuning rod threaded first end section, rotation of said tuning knob linearly advancing said tuning rod and said clamped string longitudinally and concentrically through said housing tubular portion to increase the tension in said string until the string is tensioned at a desired tuned pitch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A stringed instrument tuning device wherein said instrument includes an apertured peg head, said device comprising: a tuner housing having a tubular portion positionable exteriorly of a peg head aperture; means extending from said tubular portion for positioning said device in an aperture of said peg head; a cylindrical tuner rod extending within said housing tubular portion and having an externally threaded first end section; string clamping means extending through said tuner rod first end section for clamping an instrument string in said housing adjacent a tuner rod second end section, said tuning rod second end section including a transverse passageway for reception of an end of said string; said clamping means having a distal end portion positioned to clamp said string end, and a lock means operably extending into a first end of said tuner housing for moving said distal end portion of said clamping means into a string clamping position; and a rotatable tuning knob exterior of said housing and threadably connected to said tuning rod threaded first end section, rotation of said tuning knob linearly advancing said tuning rod and said clamped string longitudinally and concentrically through said housing tubular portion to increase the tension in said string until the string is tensioned at a desired tuned pitch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tuning device of claim 1 wherein said lock means includes a lock knob and a clamping pin extending through a central aperture in said tuning knob.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tuning device of claim 1 further including a string guide disc positioned exteriorly of and adjacent to said housing transverse passageway, for aligning an inserted string the said tuning rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The tuning device of claim 3 further including a spacer juxtaposed to said disc and having a length dictated by the angel at which the string extends from said tuning device to the remainder of the stringed instrument.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tuning device of claim 4 wherein with respect to an aligned series of said tuning devices on a single instrument, the length of a spacer in each tuning device varies in length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tuning device of claim 1 wherein said lock means includes a lock screw recessed in said tuner knob.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The tuning device of claim 1 wherein said tuner housing includes an orthogonal offset portion extending from said housing tubular portion, said housing being of one-piece construction, and wherein said offset portion includes a threaded distal end positionable and connectable in an aperture in the apertured peg head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tuning device of claim 7 wherein said offset portion includes an exterior flat for keeping said offset portion in an indexed position in the peg head aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tuning device of claim 7 further including a string guide disc extending from said offset portion for guiding a string into said transverse passageway of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A stringed instrument tuning device wherein the instrument includes an apertured peg head, said device comprising: a tuner housing having a first portion insertable into a peg head aperture, said housing having a second portion including a longitudinal passage; a tuning rod translatably positioned in said passage, said rod including a distal end transverse passageway for reception of an end of a music string; clamping means extending through a proximal end of said longitudinal passage for clamping the string end in said transverse passageway; and a tuning knob threadedly attached to said tuning rod adjacent to said passage proximal end to move said tuning rod and the clamped string longitudinally in said housing toward said proximal end of said longitudinal passage to tighten the string to a desired pitch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
A stringed instrument tuning device wherein the instrument includes an apertured peg head, said device comprising: a tuner housing having a first portion insertable into a peg head aperture, said housing having a second portion including a longitudinal passage; a tuning rod translatably positioned in said passage, said rod including a distal end transverse passageway for reception of an end of a music string; clamping means extending through a proximal end of said longitudinal passage for clamping the string end in said transverse passageway; and a tuning knob threadedly attached to said tuning rod adjacent to said passage proximal end to move said tuning rod and the clamped string longitudinally in said housing toward said proximal end of said longitudinal passage to tighten the string to a desired pitch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said clamping means includes a pin disposed concentrically within said tuning rod and wherein a thumb screw, concentric with said tuning knob, is rotatable to force said clamping pin into engagement with the string end and against a sidewall of said transverse passageway.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 10 in which said tuner housing is of one-piece construction and said housing second portion including said tuning rod, said clamping means and said tuning knob, is adjacently positioned exteriorly of said apertured peg head and extends angularly from said apertured peg head.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 10 further comprising means on said tuning rod for preventing rotation of said tuning rod in said tuner housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 13 in which said means for preventing rotation comprises a flattened portion on said tuning rod and a juxtaposed flattened portion on said tuner housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 10 further including a guide disc positioned adjacent to said tuning rod transverse passageway for aligning the string to said tuning rod.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 10 including spacer means for adjusting the height of a tuning device in the peg head aperture as dictated by the angel at which the string extends from said tuning device to a finger board on the instrument.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The device of claim 10 in which said tuner housing first portion includes a cylindrical threaded nipple insertable into the peg head aperture and further including nut means for securing said nipple to the peg head aperture, and means for orienting said tuner housing at a predetermined angular position in the peg head aperture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 17 is which said means for orienting includes a flattened section adjacent to said threaded nipple for receipt of a roll pin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 10 in which said clamping means includes a screw having a screw head accessed through an open top of said tuning knob.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 10 further including a retainer sleeve surrounding and affixed to said tuner housing, said sleeve retaining said tuning knob in rotative engagement with a threaded end of said tuner rod.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4213370A
Cited
US4674387A
Cited
US4625613A
Cited
US4648303A
Cited
US4625614A
Cited
US4643069A
Cited
US5018424A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-24 | 1995-09-23 | 1996-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-24 | 1999-09-23 | 2000-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-24 | 2003-09-23 | 2004-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |