Locking device for a tremolo

• US 6,812,389 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aaron Rhett Trooien
• Original Assignee: Aaron Rhett Trooien
• Inventors: Trooien, Aaron Rhett
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIEH, SHIH YUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/368,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20040159206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 843/13, 843/12.R
• US Class Current: 84/313
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/153 Tremolo devices

Abstract

A locking device for an electric guitar with a tremolo base plate prevents pivotal movement of the tremolo base plate. The locking device has a slide plate with a receptive slot for slidable reception of a cooperative key. The key contains a body for initiation of longitudinal motion within the slide plate slot and has an adjustable engagement member which is alignable for contact with a rear edge of the tremolo base plate.

Claims

1. A locking device for selectively preventing pivotal movement of a tremolo base plate toward and away from a guitar body, wherein the tremolo base plate is of the type that is disposed under one end of a plurality of longitudinally extending guitar strings and has a laterally extending rear edge, the locking device comprising:

a slide plate attached to the guitar body adjacent the rear edge of the tremolo base plate; and

a lock support slidably mounted on the slide plate and movable longitudinally thereon between a first position spaced from the rear edge of the tremolo base plate and a second position engaged with the rear edge of the tremolo base plate, wherein the tremolo base plate is prevented from pivotal movement toward and away from the guitar body when the lock support is in its second position.

2. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the slide plate is affixed to a top surface of the guitar body.

3. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the lock support includes means for varying the elevation of the base plate relative to the guitar body when the lock support is in its second position.

4. The locking device of claim 3 wherein the means for varying the elevation of the base plate relative to the guitar body comprises:

an engagement member adapted for engagement with the rear edge of the tremolo base plate;

means for varying the height of the engagement member relative to the slide plate; and

means for securing the engagement member at a selected height relative to the slide plate.

5. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the slide plate has a longitudinally extending slot and the lock support has a cooperatively shaped key which is slidable within the slot.

6. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the lock support includes a handle thereon to facilitate manual movement thereof between its first and second positions.

7. The locking device of claim 4 wherein the engagement member is c-shaped.

8. The locking device of claim 4 wherein the means for securing the engagement member comprises a set screw.

9. In a guitar of the type having a tremolo base plate mounted to a guitar body of the guitar for pivotal movement toward and away from the guitar body in order to produce tremolo sounds and a locking device for selectively preventing such pivotal movement, the improvement which comprises:

the locking device having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion being fixedly attached relative to a top surface of the guitar body rearwardly from the tremolo base plate and the upper portion being mounted on the lower portion for slidable longitudinal movement relative to the lower portion between a first disengaged position spaced from the tremolo base plate and a second engaged position contacting the tremolo base plate.

10. The locking device of claim 9 wherein the lower portion has a longitudinally extending slot and the upper portion has a cooperatively shaped key which is sizable within the slot.

11. The locking device of claim 10 wherein the upper portion has a first end adjacent the tremolo base plate and a second end longitudinally spaced from the first end, and wherein the upper portion comprises:

a tremolo base plate engagement member adjacent the first end of the upper portion; and

a finger touch arm adjacent the second end of the upper portion.

12. The locking device of claim 11 wherein the upper portion includes means for varying the elevation of the engagement member relative to the guitar body when the locking device is in its second position.

13. The locking device of claim 12 wherein the engagement member comprises:

an upright member on the upper portion; and

a c-shaped plate slidably mounted on the upright member.

14. The locking device of claim 13 wherein the position of the c-shaped plate relative to the upright member is determined by manipulation of a set screw on the c-shaped plate.

15. A method for selectively immobilizing a tremolo base plate from pivotal movement toward or away from a stringed instrument, comprising:

providing a slide plate affixed to the body of a stringed instrument, with a lock support slidably mounted on the slide plate, wherein the lock support has a tremolo plate engagement member movably mounted thereon;

selecting a lock position of the engagement member relative to the lock support;

fixing the engagement member in the lock position; and

longitudinally sliding the lock support along the slide plate until the engaging member contacts the tremolo base plate to fix it in position relative to the body of the stringed instrument.