US5801319A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strings for musical instruments
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-02
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2016-04-02
Abstract
Abstract An improved musical instrument string is provided. The string includes a polymer cover that protects the string, from contamination while maintaining the original "lively" sound of the musical string. By supplying the cover over a conventional string and preferable over a conventional wound string, the string is protected against contamination while also making the string easier to play. The preferred cover comprises at least one layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) that is most preferably sealed with a polymer coating. In particularly preferred embodiments, a cover is applied over a portion of the length of the string having a relatively reduced variable mass. The result is that the string has relatively uniform mass along its entire length thereby assuring correct intonation.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles G. Hebestreit
- 👤 David J. Myers
- 👤 Joseph A. Huppenthal
- 👤 Glenn T. Bethke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:15
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D3/00; G10D3/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A musical instrument string that comprises: a length of main string having variable mass per unit length along its length; a cover over a portion of the main string; wherein combination of the main string and the cover provides a musical instrument string with approximately equal mass per unit length along the length of the string.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A musical instrument string that comprises: a length of main string having variable mass per unit length along its length; a cover over a portion of the main string; wherein combination of the main string and the cover provides a musical instrument string with approximately equal mass per unit length along the length of the string.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The musical instrument string of claim 1 wherein the main string has a covered segment and an uncovered segment; and the uncovered segment of the main string has greater mass per unit length than the covered segment before covering.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The musical instrument string of claim 2 wherein the covered segment comprises a main string that has had a portion along the length of the main string removed to reduce its mass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The musical instrument string of claim 2 wherein the uncovered segment comprises a main string that has additional material added to it to increase its mass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The musical instrument string of claim 2 wherein the main string includes a winding along its length; and the covered segment of the main string has a winding spaced apart a greater amount than the uncovered segment of the main string in order to decrease its mass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The musical instrument string of claim 1 wherein the cover avoids extraneous noise when the string is played.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A musical instrument string having a length and comprising: a main string; a cover over the main string, the cover being discontinuous so as to present a first covered segment, an uncovered segment, and a second covered segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A musical instrument string having a length and comprising: a main string; a cover over the main string, the cover being discontinuous so as to present a first covered segment, an uncovered segment, and a second covered segment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The musical instrument string of claim 7 wherein the cover includes at least one score line to facilitate removing a segment of the cover to increase the length of the uncovered segment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The musical instrument string of claim 7 wherein the string has a longitudinal axis; and the cover is deformable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the string so that the string maintains its tonal qualities; and wherein the cover protects the string against extraneous noise when the string is played.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A musical instrument string having a length and comprising: a main string; a cover over the main string, the cover including at least one score line therein to facilitate removal of a portion of the cover from the main string.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A musical instrument string having a length and comprising: a main string; a cover over the main string, the cover including at least one score line therein to facilitate removal of a portion of the cover from the main string.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The musical instrument string of claim 10 wherein the string has a longitudinal axis; and the cover is deformable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the string so that the string maintains its tonal qualities; and wherein the cover protects the string against extraneous noise when the string is played.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
A musical instrument string comprising a length of main string; a cover over a portion of the main string, the cover protecting the string from contamination while not dampening the sound of the string; wherein the cover and main string combine to present an essentially consistent mass per unit length along the length of the main string; and wherein the cover protects against extraneous noise when the string is played.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A musical instrument string comprising a length of main string; a cover over a portion of the main string, the cover protecting the string from contamination while not dampening the sound of the string; wherein the cover and main string combine to present an essentially consistent mass per unit length along the length of the main string; and wherein the cover protects against extraneous noise when the string is played.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A musical instrument string comprising a main string, a cover wrapped around the main string; wherein the cover is wrapped at a first wrap angle along a first portion of the string and the cover is wrapped at a second, different, wrap angle along a second portion of the string.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A musical instrument string comprising a main string, a cover wrapped around the main string; wherein the cover is wrapped at a first wrap angle along a first portion of the string and the cover is wrapped at a second, different, wrap angle along a second portion of the string.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
The musical instrument string of claim 13 wherein the string is adapted for use on a guitar having a fret board region and a strumming region; the first portion of the string having the first wrap angle corresponds to the fret board region of the guitar; and the second portion of the string having the second wrap angle corresponds to the strumming region of the guitar.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A guitar string having a length comprising a main string; a cover over the main string, the cover covering only a portion of the main string the main string and the cover combining to provide essentially uniform mass per unit length over the length of the guitar string.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A guitar string having a length comprising a main string; a cover over the main string, the cover covering only a portion of the main string the main string and the cover combining to provide essentially uniform mass per unit length over the length of the guitar string.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A musical instrument string of claim 1 wherein the cover includes at least one score line to facilitate removing a segment of the cover.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
A musical instrument that comprises at least one string comprising a length of main string having variable mass per unit length along Its length; a cover over a portion of the main string; wherein combination of the main string and the cover provides a musical instrument string with approximately equal mass per unit length along the length of the string; wherein the musical instrument string is mounted on the musical Instrument.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
71 words
A musical instrument that comprises at least one string comprising a length of main string having variable mass per unit length along Its length; a cover over a portion of the main string; wherein combination of the main string and the cover provides a musical instrument string with approximately equal mass per unit length along the length of the string; wherein the musical instrument string is mounted on the musical Instrument.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
A musical instrument comprising at least one string having a length and comprising a main string; a cover over the main string, the cover being discontinuous so as to present a first covered segment, an uncovered segment, and a second covered segment; wherein the string is mounted on the musical instrument.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
A musical instrument comprising at least one string having a length and comprising a main string; a cover over the main string, the cover being discontinuous so as to present a first covered segment, an uncovered segment, and a second covered segment; wherein the string is mounted on the musical instrument.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
A musical instrument comprising at least one string having a length and comprising a main string; a cover over the main string, the cover including at least one score line therein to facilitate removal of a portion of the cover from the main string; wherein the string is mounted on the musical Instrument.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
A musical instrument comprising at least one string having a length and comprising a main string; a cover over the main string, the cover including at least one score line therein to facilitate removal of a portion of the cover from the main string; wherein the string is mounted on the musical Instrument.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
80 words
A musical instrument comprising at least one string comprising a main string; a cover wrapped around the main string, the cover protecting the string from contamination while not dampening the sound of the string; wherein the cover and the main string combine to present an essentially consistent mass per unit length along the length of the main string; wherein the cover protects against extraneous noise when the string is played; and wherein the string is mounted on the musical instrument.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
80 words
A musical instrument comprising at least one string comprising a main string; a cover wrapped around the main string, the cover protecting the string from contamination while not dampening the sound of the string; wherein the cover and the main string combine to present an essentially consistent mass per unit length along the length of the main string; wherein the cover protects against extraneous noise when the string is played; and wherein the string is mounted on the musical instrument.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
63 words
A musical instrument comprising at least one string comprising a main string, a cover wrapped around the main string; wherein the cover is wrapped at a first wrap angle along a first portion of the string and the cover is wrapped at a second, different, wrap angle along a second portion of the string wherein the string is mounted on the musical instrument.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
63 words
A musical instrument comprising at least one string comprising a main string, a cover wrapped around the main string; wherein the cover is wrapped at a first wrap angle along a first portion of the string and the cover is wrapped at a second, different, wrap angle along a second portion of the string wherein the string is mounted on the musical instrument.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
63 words
A guitar comprising at least one guitar string having a length and comprising a main string: a cover over the main string, the cover covering only a portion of the main string, the main string and the cover combining to provide essentially uniform mass per unit length over the length of the guitar string; wherein the guitar string is mounted on the guitar.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
63 words
A guitar comprising at least one guitar string having a length and comprising a main string: a cover over the main string, the cover covering only a portion of the main string, the main string and the cover combining to provide essentially uniform mass per unit length over the length of the guitar string; wherein the guitar string is mounted on the guitar.
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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) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |