Bridge for stringed instruments

• US 4,031,799 A
• Filed: 01/26/1976
• Issued: 06/28/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fender C. Leo
• Original Assignee: Fender C. Leo
• Inventors: Fender, C. Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tomsky, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US05/652,408
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 84/307, 84/298, 84/291, 84/299
• US Class Current: 84/307
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/04 Bridges

Abstract

In a bridge for stringed instruments of the type including a plurality of independently movable drums which permit independent adjustment of the length and height of each string of the instrument, there is disclosed an improved construction wherein all of the drums are urged axially into contact with each other and a fixed post to reduce vibration of the drums and wherein the adjustment holes through the drums are arranged to prevent fraying of the sleeve of a player of the instrument as such sleeve passes over the bridge.

Claims

1. A bridge for a stringed instrument including a body and a neck comprising:

a base member rigidly connectable to said body of said instrument;

a plurality of drums;

means connecting said drums to said base member in end-to-end relationship for independent lateral movement in two orthogonal directions to separately adjust the length of each string and the height of each string relative to said neck;

a fixed post connected to said base member, adjacent one end of the first one of said drums; and

means operatively positioned adjacent said drums for conducting said strings into engagement with said drums connecting means and said drums so as to apply an axial force to each of said drums and to urge all of said drums axially into contact with each other and said first drum into contact with said post.

2. A bridge for a stringed instrument according to claim 1 wherein said base member has a first planar section connectable to said body of said instrument and a second planar section connected to one end of said first section and extending perpendicular thereto, wherein each of said drums has an internally threaded hole extending laterally therethrough, wherein said means connecting said drums to said base member comprises a plurality of bolts extending through said second section of said base member and through said holes in said drums whereby rotation of said bolts relative to said drums moves said drums towards or away from said second section of said base member, and wherein said means for conducting said strings comprises:

a plurality of holes in said first section of said base member, one for each of said drums, each of said holes extending at least partially beneath its associated one of said bolts, said strings extending through said holes in said base member, around said bolts, and over said drums.

3. A bridge for a stringed instrument according to claim 1 wherein said

means for conducting said strings at least partially wraps each of said strings around its associated drums connecting means to apply a force to each of said drums connecting means towards said post.

4. A bridge for a stringed instrument according to claim 1 wherein said base member has a first planar section connectable to said body of said instrument and a second planar section connected to one end of said first section and extending perpendicular thereto, wherein each of said drums has a first internally threaded hole extending laterally therethrough, a pair of second internally threaded holes extending partially, laterally therethrough, perpendicular to said first holes, and a pair of third unthreaded holes extending partially, laterally therethrough, coaxial with said second holes, said third holes having a smaller diameter than said second holes, and wherein said means connecting said drums to said base member comprises:

a plurality of bolts extending through said second section of said base member and through said first holes in said drums whereby rotation of said bolts relative to said drums moves said drums towards or away from said second section of said base member; and

a plurality of set screws positioned in said second holes in said drums, all of said set screws extending outwardly from said drums and into contact with said first section of said base member to adjust the height of said drums relative to said base member, said third holes being adapted to receive a wrench for contacting said set screws in said aligned second holes to rotate same relative to said drums.

5. A bridge for a stringed instrument according to claim 4, wherein said means for conducting said strings comprises:

a plurality of holes in said first section of said base member, one for each of said drums, each of said holes extending at least partially beneath its associated one of said bolts, said strings extending through said holes in said base member, around said bolts, and over said drums.

6. A bridge for a stringed instrument including a body and a neck comprising:

a base member having a first planar section connectable to said body of said instrument and a second planar section connected to one end of said first section and extending perpendicular thereto;

a plurality of drums, the strings of said instrument engaging said drums, each of said drums having a first internally threaded hole extending laterally therethrough, a pair of second internally threaded holes extending partially, laterally therethrough, perpendicular to said first holes, and a pair of third unthreaded holes extending partially, laterally therethrough, coaxial with said second holes, said third holes having a smaller diameter than said second holes;

a plurality of bolts extending through said second section of said base member and through said first holes in said drums whereby rotation of said bolts relative to said drums moves said drums towards or away from said second of said base member to separately adjust the length of each string; and

a plurality of set screws positioned in said second holes in said drums, all of said set screws extending outwardly from said drums and into contact with said first section of said base member to permit adjustment of the height of said drums relative to said base member, said third holes being adapted to receive a wrench for contacting said set screws in said second holes to rotate same relative to said drums.