Body for stringed musical instrument

• US 5,747,711 A
• Filed: 03/19/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deanne E. Cavaness, Jack D. Cavaness
• Original Assignee: Deanne E. Cavaness, Jack D. Cavaness
• Inventors: Cavaness, Deanne E., Cavaness, Jack D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SPYROU, CASSANDRA
• Application Number:
  US08/617,684
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 84/291, 84/293, 84/292, 84/267, 84/327, 84/464 R
• US Class Current: 84/291
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 1/085 Mechanical design of electric guitars

Abstract

A clear stringed musical instrument body capable of receiving a substance such that the appearance of the instrument may be altered by changing the substance contained within the body. The body comprises a front, a back and sides defining a watertight interior. The front includes at least one opening into watertight means for housing electronic control components within the body, wherein the watertight means projects into the interior of the body and merges with the body. The body also includes means for filling and draining the body which comprises at least one hole formed on the body and a plug received within the hole. The body further includes means for attaching the body to a neck and means for attaching a strap to the body.

Claims

1. A body for a stringed musical instrument, comprising:

a front, a back and sides rigidly attached to define a watertight interior;

the front having at least one opening projecting into the interior of the body and merging with the body to form a watertight chamber for housing electronic control components within the interior of the body;

means for filling and draining the body; and

attachment means for attaching the body to a neck of the stringed instrument,

wherein the attachment means further comprises at least one post extending from a recess formed in the body and at least one fastener, the at least one post having a longitudinal bore for receiving the at least one fastener.

2. The body of claim 1 wherein the watertight chamber further includes:

a back plate removably attached to the chamber.

3. The body of claim 1 wherein the means for filling and draining the body further comprises:

a plug configured to be received within at least one hole formed in the body.

4. The body of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one strap button mounted on the body for attaching a strap thereto.

5. The body of claim 4 wherein the means for filling and draining the body is integrally formed with the at least one strap button.

10. The body of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of structural ribs positioned along an interior surface of the sides of the body adjacent the neck and extending into the interior of the body.

6. A body for an electric guitar, comprising:

a front and a back attached at sides to form a hollow, watertight chamber;

a watertight housing contained within the chamber for receiving electronic control components;

wherein the front includes at least one opening into the housing;

the body having at least one hole formed therein for filling and draining the body;

a plug configured to be received within the at least one hole;

at least one fastener for attaching the body to a neck of the stringed instrument; and

a plurality of posts, each post having a bore for receiving one of said at least one fastener,

wherein the posts are positioned about a perimeter of the at least one opening in the front and extend transversely from an interior surface of the front to an interior surface of the back of the body.

7. The body of claim 6 wherein the watertight housing further comprises:

a plurality of separate chambers projecting into the body from the at least one opening at the front of the body such that each chamber is suspended within the body and communicates with the body only at the opening from which it projects; and

a conduit for interconnecting the plurality of chambers.

8. The body of claim 6, further comprising:

means for attaching a strap to the body.

9. The body of claim 6 wherein the body further includes:

at least one post extending perpendicularly from a recess formed on the body for receiving the neck,

the at least one post having a bore formed therein for receiving the at least one fastener.

11. A clear plastic electric guitar body having sides formed therewith, a clear plastic back piece attached to the body at the sides and forming a hollow interior filled with a colored liquid for imparting a color to the body, and means for draining and refilling the interior, the improvement comprising:

a front having at least one opening into a watertight chamber for receiving electronic control components, wherein the chamber projects into the interior of the body from the at least one opening and is contained within the body;

at least one fastener for attaching the body to a neck of the guitar; and

means for attaching a strap to the guitar;

wherein the means for filling and draining the body and the means for attaching a strap to the body are integrally formed.

12. The body of claim 11 wherein the watertight chamber extends transversely through the body from the at least one opening in the front to an opening in the back of the body;

and

a back plate attached to the chamber at the opening in the back of the body.

13. The body of claim 11 wherein the watertight chamber further comprises:

a transverse opening having side surfaces extending through the body from the front to the back; and

a back plate for covering the opening at the back of the body.

14. The body of claim 11 further comprising:

means for attaching a strap to the body.