US5990403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lyre mounting bracket for a musical instrument tuner
Assignee: ONBOARD RESEARCH Corp
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Filing: 1998-12-11
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Granted: 1999-11-23
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Expires: 2018-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A lyre mounting bracket (14) is provided for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner (12) to a lyre (16) for a musical instrument (10). The tuner (12) includes an electronics section (26) having a vibratory sensor. A hinged elbow member (44) secures the mounting bracket (14) to the tuner (12). The mounting bracket (14) has a main body (42) which includes two oppositely facing, planar surfaces (50, 52) for securing directly between a clamp (20) of the lyre (16). Support braces (58, 60) extend outward from opposite sides of the main body (42), each having arcuately shaped sides (66-76) which extend orthogonal to and adjacent to the peripheral edges of respective ones of the planer mounting surfaces (50, 52). The sides (66-76) have profiles which fit substantially flush with portions of a profile (94) defined by the peripheral edges of a first half (90) of the lyre clamp (20). The first half (90) of the lyre clamp (20) includes two lobes (96, 98) which fit substantially flush against mounting ears (54, 56) defined by the main body (42) of the mounting bracket (14). The support braces (58, 60) further include protuberances (78, 80) which extend into crooks (97, 99) of the profile (94) of the first half (90) of the lyre clamp (20). The arcuately shaped sides (66-76) and the protuberances (78, 80) of the support braces (58, 60), and the planar mounting surfaces (50, 52) together define two oppositely facing sockets (62, 64) for receiving the two parts (90, 92) of the lyre clamp (20) in a closely fitting relation, such that the lyre mounting bracket (14) is acoustically coupled to the lyre (16) for transmitting mechanical vibration therebetween.
Inventors
- 👤 Agustin J. Membreno
- 👤 Mark L. Wilson
- 👤 Kerry W. Whitaker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:47
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10G; G10G7/00; G10G7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre, comprising: a main body having a planar surface and a second surface which face in opposite directions, said planar surface including a peripheral edge which is arcuately shaped to define two spaced apart mounting ear portions; a support brace which extends adjacent to said peripheral edge of said planar surface, said support brace having a side which is adjacent to and orthogonal to said planar surface, wherein said side of said support brace extends for fitting substantially flush with a periphery of the lyre; and said second surface of said main body being aligned with said planar surface such that the lyre will clamp to said main body, with a first clamp portion of the lyre fitting flush against said planar surface, and a second clamp portion of the lyre pressing against the second surface and pressing the first clamp portion of the lyre against said planar surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre, comprising: a main body having a planar surface and a second surface which face in opposite directions, said planar surface including a peripheral edge which is arcuately shaped to define two spaced apart mounting ear portions; a support brace which extends adjacent to said peripheral edge of said planar surface, said support brace having a side which is adjacent to and orthogonal to said planar surface, wherein said side of said support brace extends for fitting substantially flush with a periphery of the lyre; and said second surface of said main body being aligned with said planar surface such that the lyre will clamp to said main body, with a first clamp portion of the lyre fitting flush against said planar surface, and a second clamp portion of the lyre pressing against the second surface and pressing the first clamp portion of the lyre against said planar surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 1, further comprising an elbow member which is rigidly mounted to said main body to extend with a first portion which is parallel to said planar surface, a second portion which is perpendicular to said planar surface, and further including a hinge connection for pivotally mounting said musical instrument tuner to said main body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 2, wherein said hinge connection comprises a hinge tab which extends outward from a first planar member, a second planar member which is directly adjacent to said planar surface and connected on one end to said first planar member, a gusset member which extends between said first and second planar members, and a void space extending adjacent to said first and second planar members and said gusset member, such that said void spaced is disposed on an opposite side of said first planar member from said hinge tab member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 3, wherein said main body, said first and second planar members, and said gusset member are molded of thermoplastic as a singular part.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 1, wherein said side surface of said support brace has two oppositely facing protuberances which extend adjacent to lower edges of said mounting ear portions of said main body, such that said protuberances engage snugly against crooks in respective ones of lobes of the first clamp portion of the lyre.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 5, wherein said main body and said support brace are molded of thermoplastic as a singular part.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
294 words
A mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre, comprising: a main body having first and second planar surfaces which are parallel and face in opposite directions, and said first and second planar surfaces having peripheral edges which extend with arcuately shaped edges to define two spaced apart mounting ear portions for said mounting body; a first support brace which extends adjacent to a first one of said peripheral edges of said first planar surface, and said first support brace having a first side which is adjacent to and orthogonal to said first planar surface; a second support brace which extends adjacent to a second one of said peripheral edges of said second planar surface, and said second support brace having a second side which is adjacent to and orthogonal to said first planar surface; said first and second support braces being spaced apart on opposite side of said main body, and one of said first and second sides of said first and second support braces fitting substantially flush against at least a first portion of a clamp of the lyre when the first portion is disposed adjacent to said one of said first and second support braces; and wherein the first and second portions of the clamp of the lyre are firmly pressed against respective ones of said first and second planar surfaces of said mounting bracket, such that a flat surface of the first portion of the clamp having a periphery which defines a profile of the lyre will fit substantially flush against one of said first and second planar surfaces and at least a portion of the periphery of the flat surface will fit substantially flush with a respective one of said first and second support braces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
294 words
A mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre, comprising: a main body having first and second planar surfaces which are parallel and face in opposite directions, and said first and second planar surfaces having peripheral edges which extend with arcuately shaped edges to define two spaced apart mounting ear portions for said mounting body; a first support brace which extends adjacent to a first one of said peripheral edges of said first planar surface, and said first support brace having a first side which is adjacent to and orthogonal to said first planar surface; a second support brace which extends adjacent to a second one of said peripheral edges of said second planar surface, and said second support brace having a second side which is adjacent to and orthogonal to said first planar surface; said first and second support braces being spaced apart on opposite side of said main body, and one of said first and second sides of said first and second support braces fitting substantially flush against at least a first portion of a clamp of the lyre when the first portion is disposed adjacent to said one of said first and second support braces; and wherein the first and second portions of the clamp of the lyre are firmly pressed against respective ones of said first and second planar surfaces of said mounting bracket, such that a flat surface of the first portion of the clamp having a periphery which defines a profile of the lyre will fit substantially flush against one of said first and second planar surfaces and at least a portion of the periphery of the flat surface will fit substantially flush with a respective one of said first and second support braces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 7, wherein said side surfaces of said first and second support braces each have two oppositely facing protuberances which extend adjacent to lower edges of said mounting ear portions of said main body and corresponding ones of said first and second planar sides, such that said protuberances engage substantially flush against crooks in lobes of the first portion of the clamp of the lyre.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 7, further comprising an elbow member which is rigidly mounted to said main body to extend with a first portion which is parallel to said first and second planar surfaces, a second portion which is perpendicular to said first and second planar surfaces, and further including a hinge connection for pivotally mounting said musical instrument tuner to said main body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
110 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 9, wherein said hinge connection comprises a hinge tab member which extends outward from a first planar member, a second planar member which is directly adjacent to said first and second planar surfaces and connected on one end to said first planar member, two gusset member which extend between said first and second planar members, and a void space extending adjacent to said first and second planar members and between said gusset members, such that said void spaced is disposed on an opposite side of said first planar member from said hinge tab member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 10, wherein said main body, said first and second support braces, said first and second planar members, and said gusset members are molded of thermoplastic as a singular part.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
316 words
A mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre, comprising: a main body having first and second planar surfaces which are parallel and face in opposite directions, and said first and second planar surfaces having peripheral edges which extend with arcuately shaped edges; a first support brace which continuously extends adjacent to three sides of a first one of said peripheral edges of said first planar surface, and said first support brace having a first side which is adjacent to and orthogonal to said first planar surface; a second support brace which continuously extends adjacent to three sides of a second one of said peripheral edges of said second planar surface, and said second support brace having a second side which is adjacent to and orthogonal to said first planar surface; said first and second support braces being spaced apart on opposite sides of said main body, and said first and second sides which are adjacent to said peripheral edges of said first and second planar surfaces each having a profile for fitting substantially flush against at least one of first and second clamp members of a clamp of the lyre; said side surfaces of said first and second support braces each having two oppositely facing protuberances which extend adjacent to lower edges of said mounting ear portions of said main body and corresponding ones of said first and second planar sides, such that said protuberances engage snugly against crooks in lobes of one of the first and second clamp members of the lyre; and an elbow member which is rigidly mounted to said main body to extend with a first portion which is parallel to said first and second planar surfaces, a second portion which is perpendicular to said first and second planar surfaces, and further including a hinge connection for pivotally mounting said musical instrument tuner to said main body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
316 words
A mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre, comprising: a main body having first and second planar surfaces which are parallel and face in opposite directions, and said first and second planar surfaces having peripheral edges which extend with arcuately shaped edges; a first support brace which continuously extends adjacent to three sides of a first one of said peripheral edges of said first planar surface, and said first support brace having a first side which is adjacent to and orthogonal to said first planar surface; a second support brace which continuously extends adjacent to three sides of a second one of said peripheral edges of said second planar surface, and said second support brace having a second side which is adjacent to and orthogonal to said first planar surface; said first and second support braces being spaced apart on opposite sides of said main body, and said first and second sides which are adjacent to said peripheral edges of said first and second planar surfaces each having a profile for fitting substantially flush against at least one of first and second clamp members of a clamp of the lyre; said side surfaces of said first and second support braces each having two oppositely facing protuberances which extend adjacent to lower edges of said mounting ear portions of said main body and corresponding ones of said first and second planar sides, such that said protuberances engage snugly against crooks in lobes of one of the first and second clamp members of the lyre; and an elbow member which is rigidly mounted to said main body to extend with a first portion which is parallel to said first and second planar surfaces, a second portion which is perpendicular to said first and second planar surfaces, and further including a hinge connection for pivotally mounting said musical instrument tuner to said main body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 12, wherein said hinge connection comprises two hinge tabs which extend outward from a first planar member, a second planar member which is directly adjacent to said first and second planar surfaces and connected on one end to said first planar member, two gusset members which extend between said first and second planar members, and a void space extending adjacent to said first and second planar members and between said gusset members, such that said void spaced is disposed on an opposite side of said first planar member from said hinge tab members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The mounting bracket for acoustically coupling a musical instrument tuner to a lyre according to claim 13, wherein said main body, said first and second support braces and said hinge connection member are molded as a singular part.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3543633A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-22 | 2003-05-24 | 2003-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-22 | 2007-05-24 | 2007-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-22 | 2011-05-24 | 2011-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |