Fine tuning means for fulcrum tremolo

• US 8,536,430 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary Kahler, Geoffrey McCabe
• Original Assignee: Gary Kahler, Geoffrey McCabe
• Inventors: McCabe, Geoffrey, Kahler, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): UHLIR, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US12/686,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20100175534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 843/12.R
• US Class Current: 84/312.R
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/14 Tuning devices, e.g. pegs, pins, friction discs or worm gears

Abstract

Apparatus, such as a stringed musical instrument, is provided with intonation modules that include a novel fine-tuning invention that eliminates modifying strings required of prior art comprising an improved clamping element, a hollow tube element forming a tailpiece at one end furthest the second critical point and a novel adaptor plate element connected to a base plate. Clamping the sting renders the string substantially inextensible between the clamping point and the tailpiece formed at the end of the hollow. Threading the string through the hollow tube portion delivers the string over the second critical point effortlessly. The hollow portion of the string holder element is threadedly engaged with an adjustment knob and makes bearing contact with adaptor plate for fine-tuning. The adaptor plate can be added to a unitary component forming the base plate and can provide other functions. Reverse threaded screws intonation module attachment screws are provided to complete a comprehensive base plate/intonation module format that integrates to a common standard all elements of the two otherwise disparate two primary vintage fulcrum tremolo designs except for riser post spacing. An improved ball bearing arrangement is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a stringed musical instrument, the stringed musical instrument comprising a body and a neck, a plurality of strings extending from the body to the neck, a nut for supporting the strings on the neck forming a first critical point for each string, a bridge element for supporting the strings on the body forming a second critical point for each string, the apparatus comprising:

a base comprising;

a first side furthest from the body,

a second side closer to the body,

a tailpiece,

a string clamping element connected to the base comprising;

a forward end closer to the nut, and

a rearward end further from the nut;

an enlarged recess to receive at least one string therethrough, the enlarged recess comprising;

a lower surface generally parallel to the strings extending between the first critical point and the second critical point and closer to the first side; and

an upper surface generally parallel to the string extending between the first critical point and the second critical point and further from the first side;

a clamping portion variably connected to the string clamping element comprising;

a first surface extending generally parallel to the strings extending between the first critical point and the second critical point closer to the upper surface of the enlarged recess; and

a second surface extending generally parallel to the strings extending between the first critical point and the second critical point closer to the lower surface of the enlarged recess; and

a clamping screw transverse the direction of the strings threadedly connected to the string clamping element in variable contact with the first surface of the clamping portion;

wherein threading the clamping screw is operable to position the first second surface of the clamping portion relative to the lower surface of the elongated recess to secure a string,

wherein the clamping element further comprises an additional opening extending through the upper surface of the enlarged recess, the clamping portion further comprises an L-shaped form comprising an upper leg extending away from a lower leg transverse the direction of the strings through the additional opening, the lower leg comprising the first and second surface;

wherein the upper leg is operable to manipulate a position of the clamping portion.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tailpiece comprises a first tailpiece located on an opposite side of the string clamping element from the first critical point to secure a string;

wherein threading the clamping screw to position the second surface of the clamping portion relative to the lower surface of the enlarged recess to secure a string forms a second tailpiece and is operable to render the string inextensible between the first and second tailpiece.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second tailpiece comprises an elongated portion connected to the string clamping element extending in a direction opposite to the nut.

4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein the elongated portion further comprises a hollow tube fashioned to receive a string therethrough, the hollow tube comprising:

a first end closer to the string clamping element; and

a second end located further from the string clamping element, wherein the second end comprises the first tailpiece.

5. Apparatus of claim 4 further comprises a tremolo wherein the bridge element is connected to the base and is located between the forward end and the clamping element.

6. Apparatus of claim 4 further comprises a fulcrum tremolo wherein the bridge element is connected to the base and is located between the forward end and the clamping element.

7. A fulcrum tremolo for a stringed musical instrument, the stringed musical instrument comprising a body and a neck, a plurality of strings extending from the body to the neck, a nut for supporting the strings on the neck forming a first critical point for each string, the fulcrum tremolo comprises:

a base plate, the base plate further comprising;

a first surface closer to the body, and

a second surface further from the body;

at least one attachment screw comprising;

a head, and

a threaded portion slideably connected to the base plate;

an end of the threaded portion furthest from the head;

at least one intonation module comprising;

a second critical point,

an upper surface closer to the second critical point,

a lower surface closer to the base plate, and

a threaded opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface transverse the strings to receive the at least one attachment screw;

the base plate further comprising at least one slot-like opening extending through the base plate formed to extend in the direction of the strings to receive the at least one attachment screw therethrough;

the threaded portion of the at least one attachment screw and the threaded opening of the at least one intonation module are reverse-threaded,

the head of the at least one attachment screw is positioned on the second surface of the base plate,

the reverse-threaded portion extends through the at least one slot-like opening and threadedly engages the reverse-threaded opening,

whereby threading the at least one attachment screw is operable to slideably secure the second critical point relative to the first critical point,

wherein the end of the threaded portion furthest the head has a first recess,

wherein the first recess comprises a broche.

8. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein the head comprises a second recess.

9. Apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second recess comprises a broche.

10. Apparatus for a stringed musical instrument, the stringed musical instrument comprising a body and a neck, a plurality of strings extending from the body to the neck, each of the plurality of strings further comprising a ball end, a nut for supporting the strings on the neck forming a first critical point for each string wherein the apparatus comprises:

a fulcrum tremolo further comprising;

a base plate, and

an intonation module comprising;

a base connected to the base plate, the base further comprising;

a first side furthest from the body, and

a second side closer to the body;

a fine tuning element pivotally connected to the base to tension a string comprising;

a forward end closer to the nut,

a rearward end further from the nut,

an enlarged recess formed to receive a string therethrough, the enlarged recess further comprising;

 

a lower surface extending generally parallel to the strings extending between the first critical point and a second critical point closer to the first side; and

 

an upper surface extending generally parallel to the strings extending between the first critical point and a second critical points further from the first side;

a bridge element connected to the tuning element located closer the forward end forming a second critical point;

a hollow tube located on the opposite side of the bridge element from the nut comprising;

a string passageway to receive a string therethrough,

a first end closer to the bridge element, and

a second end located further from the bridge element, the second end comprising a tailpiece to secure a ball end of a string;

an adaptor plate, the adaptor plate comprising a fine tuner plate connected to the fine tuning element, wherein the adaptor plate is transverse to the direction of strings on an opposite side of the second critical point from the first critical point and extending generally away from both the first critical point and the body an angle relative to the direction of the strings, an adapter plate further comprising at least one slot formed to receive at least one hollow tube therethrough, a first surface closer to the bridge element, and a second surface further from the bridge element;

wherein the intonation module further comprises a fine tuner knob threadedly connected to the hollow tube, wherein the hollow tube, the fine tuner knob and the tailpiece are located on an opposite side of the second critical point from the first critical point;

wherein threading the fine tuner knob is operable to pivotally position the fine tuning element to change the tension of a string; and

wherein the intonation module further comprises;

a string clamping element connected to the tuning element, the string clamping element having a forward end closer to the nut, and a rearward end further from the nut;

a clamping portion variably connected to the string clamping element having a first surface generally parallel to the strings extending between the first critical point and the second critical point closer to the upper surface of the enlarged recess; and

a second surface generally parallel to the strings extending between the first and second critical points closer to the lower surface of the enlarged recess; and

a clamping screw transverse the direction of the strings threadedly connected to the string clamping element in variable contact with the first surface of the clamping portion, wherein threading the clamping screw is operable to position the second surface of the clamping portion relative to the lower surface of the enlarged recess to secure a string.

11. Apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tailpiece comprises:

a first tailpiece to secure a string, wherein the first tailpiece comprises the string clamping element; and

wherein threading the clamping screw to position the second surface of the clamping portion relative to the lower surface of the enlarged recess to secure a string forms a second tailpiece and is operable to render the string inextensible between the first and second tailpiece.

12. Apparatus of claim 11 wherein the fine tuner knob comprises:

a first end and a second end;

the second end comprises a recess larger than both the second end of the hollow tube and the ball end of a string; and

a bearing surface.

13. Apparatus of claim 10 wherein the base plate comprises unitary component that is a single piece of bent material comprising:

a forward edge, a portion of the forward edge being a pivot and forming a pivot axis, and an end opposite of the forward edge;

the opposite end of the forward edge of the base plate comprising;

a bend in the unitary component;

a transverse portion comprising;

at least one spring socket to receive an end of at least on biasing element; and

wherein the bend transitions the base plate to the transverse portion, and wherein the bend and the transverse portion are approximately parallel to the pivot axis.

14. A fulcrum tremolo for a stringed musical instrument, the stringed musical instrument comprising a body and a neck, a plurality of strings extending from the body to the neck, a nut for supporting the strings on the neck forming a first critical point for each string, the fulcrum tremolo further comprising:

a base plate being approximately planar;

the base plate further comprising;

a first surface closer to the body,

a second surface further from the body, and

at least one slot opening;

at least one portion connected to the base plate formed to receive at least one bearing assembly forming a pivot axis for the fulcrum tremolo;

the at least one bearing assembly, comprising;

at least a portion of a shaft transverse the direction of the plurality of strings aligned to the pivot axis,

at least one mounting element comprising a shaped recess,

at least a portion of a ball bearing surface, and

at least one setscrew threadably attached to the at least one mounting element transverse to the direction of the pivot axis wherein threading the at least one setscrew positions the at least a portion of a shaft; and

at least one attachment screw comprising;

a head and

a reverse threaded portion slideably connected to the base plate, the head of the at least one attachment screw is connected to the second surface of the base plate;

at least one intonation module further comprising;

a second critical point,

a base connected to the base plate;

the base comprising;

 

an upper surface closer to the second critical point,

 

a lower surface closer to the base plate, and

 

a reverse-threaded opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface transverse the direction of the strings;

wherein the at least one slot opening is formed to allow the at least one attachment screw therethrough whereby threading the at least one attachment screw is operable to slideably secure the at least one intonation module and thereby the second critical point relative to the first critical point; and

a fine tuning element pivotally connected to the base to tension a string comprising;

a forward end closer to the nut,

a rearward end further to the nut,

an enlarged recess formed to receive a string therethrough, the elongated recess further comprising;

a lower surface generally parallel to the strings extending between the first critical point and the second critical point and closer to the base plate, and

an upper surface generally parallel the strings extending between the first critical point and the second critical point and further from the base plate;

a bridge element connected to the fine tuning element located closer to the forward end forming a second critical point;

an elongated portion located on an opposite side of the bridge element from the nut and extending in a direction opposite to the nut, the elongated portion further comprising;

a first end closer to the bridge element and

a second end located further from the bridge element, the second end comprising a tailpiece to secure a ball end of a string,

an adaptor plate, the adaptor plate comprising a fine tuner plate located transverse the direction of the strings on an opposite side of the second critical point from the first critical point and extending generally away from both the first critical point and the body at an angle relative to the direction of the strings;

the adaptor plate comprising;

at least one slot formed to receive at least one elongated portion therethrough;

a first surface closer to the bridge element and

a second surface further from the bridge element;

a fine tuner knob, the fine tuner knob threadedly connected to the second end of the elongated portion;

wherein the fine tuner knob is positioned on an opposite side of the fine tuner plate from the bridge element, and the fine tuner knob is in variable bearing contact with the second surface of the angled fine tuner plate, and the elongated portion, the fine tuner knob and the tailpiece are located on the opposite side of the second critical point from the first critical point, wherein threading the fine tuner knob is operable to pivotally position the tuning element to change the tension of a string; and

a string clamping element connected to the tuning element comprising;

a forward end closer to the nut, and

a rearward end further from the nut;

a clamping portion variably connected to the string clamping element comprising;

a first surface generally parallel to the strings extending between the first critical point and the second critical point closer to the upper surface of the enlarged recess;

a second surface generally parallel to the strings extending between the first critical point and the second critical point closer to the lower surface of the enlarged recess; and

a clamping screw transverse the direction of the strings threadedly connected to the string clamping element in variable contact with the first surface of the clamping portion;

wherein threading the clamping screw is operable to position the first surface of the clamping portion relative to the lower surface of the enlarged recess to secure a string.

15. Apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one mounting element comprises a bearing housing.

16. Apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one mounting element comprises an axel housing.