Accompanying device for playing stringed instruments

• US 4,331,059 A
• Filed: 07/11/1980
• Issued: 05/25/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jose Marabotto
• Original Assignee: Jose Marabotto
• Inventors: Marabotto, Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): Franklin, Lawrence R.
• Application Number:
  US06/167,487
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 84/315, 84/317-319, 84/326, 84/443
• US Class Current: 84/317
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/08 Fingerboards in the form of keyboards

Abstract

An accompanying device for attachment to the neck of a string instrument, such as a guitar, for assisting in the playing of the selected chords to conform to a complete tone or melody. The device comprises a container and a group of selector keys contained therein which are spaced at operational heights above the strings. Each selector has a number of elongations to reach the strings and engage them at the corresponding frets.

Claims

1. An accompanying device for a stringed musical instrument having a neck with frets spaced longitudinally thereon and strings spaced laterally thereacross comprising in combination a container slidably mounted on said neck for positioning longitudinally along said strings at different fret positions, said container having disposed therein a group of selector keys for producing musical tones, a means for attaching said accompanying device to the neck of said stringed instrument, said attachment means comprising a flexible band to be tightened about the neck of said string instrument, said flexible band interacting with tightening arms having flat and bent ends, said arms pivoting about respective plates of said container having holes to support said arms, said arms pivoting and exercising their tightening action by pulling on the ends of the flexible band when their straight ends are depressed by a tightening lock nut.

2. The accompanying device as disclosed in claim 1, wherein each of said selector keys has at least one elongation of its body that reaches the respective strings at the corresponding frets so as to produce different musical chords in response to the depression of each of said selector keys.

3. The accompanying device as disclosed in claim 2, wherein each selector key comprises a unitary structure integrally placed within said carrier with respect to the remaining selector keys such that the elongations which stop the strings are independent of each other.

4. The accompanying device as disclosed in claim 2, wherein said container comprises a box like structure, the top portion thereof being open for insertion of the selector keys and the bottom portion thereof comprising a plane structure having openings therein for selective passage of the elongations of said selector keys.

5. The accompanying device as disclosed in claim 2, wherein each selector comprises a key type upper body and vertical elongations extending therefrom which transmit pressure from the key type upper body to the strings selectively, all of said elongations having the same vertical measurement, each selector having the necessary vertical elongations corresponding to the respective chord it is designed to reproduce upon the application of pressure to said upper body.

6. The accompanying device as disclosed in claim 5, wherein the respective selector keys further include a secondary elongation which functions as a spacer around which is positioned a spring which initially maintains the selectors in their nonengaging position and upon depression and release returns the respective selector to its starting position.

7. The accompanying device as disclosed in claim 1, wherein said group of selector keys numbers eight.