US5907113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strings for musical instruments
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1996-12-20
•
Granted: 1999-05-25
•
Expires: 2016-12-20
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
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:00
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D3/00; G10D3/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A musical instrument string made through a process comprising providing a wound string comprising a metal; placing a cover over at least a portion of the wound metal string to form a covered string; heating the covered wound string in an environment having a sufficiently low concentration of oxygen so as not to support combustion so as to produce a covered wound musical instrument string with little oxidation and discolorization under the cover.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A musical instrument string made through a process comprising providing a wound string comprising a metal; placing a cover over at least a portion of the wound metal string to form a covered string; heating the covered wound string in an environment having a sufficiently low concentration of oxygen so as not to support combustion so as to produce a covered wound musical instrument string with little oxidation and discolorization under the cover.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 1 that further comprises forming the cover with at least one layer of polymer material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 2 that further comprises covering the string with a polymer material comprising polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 3 that further comprises providing the polytetrafluoroethylene as a polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of oriented fibrils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 1 that further comprises heating the string in an environment having increased concentration of inert gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 5 that further comprises providing nitrogen as at least a portion of the inert gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 1 that further comprises forming the cover with at least one layer of polymer material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 7 that further comprises covering the string with a polymer material comprising polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 8 that further comprises providing the polytetrafluoroethylene as a polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of oriented fibrils.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 1 that further comprises heating the covered string in the environment including an inert gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 1 that further comprises providing a cover that is substantially non-dampening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 1 that further comprises the string having a longitudinal axis and providing a cover that is deformable along the longitudinal axis of the string.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 1 that further comprises heating the string in an environment of inert gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
A musical instrument string made through the process comprising providing a string having a length and comprising a metal; covering the string with a polymeric cover to form a covered string; and heating the covered string in an environment having a sufficiently low concentration of oxygen so as not to support combustion so as to produce a musical instrument string along its length following heating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
A musical instrument string made through the process comprising providing a string having a length and comprising a metal; covering the string with a polymeric cover to form a covered string; and heating the covered string in an environment having a sufficiently low concentration of oxygen so as not to support combustion so as to produce a musical instrument string along its length following heating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 14 that further comprises providing nitrogen as at least a portion of the inert gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 14 that further comprises providing a cover over only a portion of the string prior to heating and whereby the musical instrument string has a surface with little oxidation and discolorization on an uncovered portion and under the cover following heating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 16 that further comprises providing a cover that is substantially non-dampening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 16 that further comprises the string having a longitudinal axis and providing a cover that is deformable along the longitudinal axis of the string.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The musical instrument string made in accordance with claim 16 that further comprises heating the string and cover in an environment having a sufficiently low concentration of oxygen so as not to support combustion.
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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) | 2002-05-24 | 2002-11-23 | 2003-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-24 | 2006-11-23 | 2007-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-24 | 2010-11-23 | 2011-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |