Guitar tremolo bridge

• US 9,502,010 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Cardozo
• Original Assignee: William Cardozo
• Inventors: Cardozo, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Horn, Robert W
• Application Number:
  US14/808,279
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 1/085 Mechanical design of electric guitars
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/04 Bridges
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/153 Tremolo devices

Abstract

A tremolo bridge for a guitar comprising a body, a neck attached to said body, a headstock attached to said neck, a plurality of tuners disposed on said headstock and adjacent the neck, at least one post extending from said body, each of said at least one post further comprising a V-shaped notch, and a plurality of strings, whereby each string of said plurality of strings is attached to the tremolo bridge, extends along the neck of the guitar, and is attached to a corresponding one of said plurality of tuners disposed on the headstock, said tremolo bridge comprising: a base plate, a block extending from said base plate, a tremolo arm attached to said base plate, and a locking mechanism for locking the position of the tremolo bridge.

Claims

1. A tremolo bridge for a guitar comprising a body, a neck attached to said body, a headstock attached to said neck, a plurality of tuners disposed on said headstock and adjacent the neck, at least one post extending from said body, each of said at least one post further comprising a V-shaped notch, and a plurality of strings, whereby each string of said plurality of strings is attached to the tremolo bridge, extends along the neck of the guitar, and is attached to a corresponding one of said plurality of tuners disposed on the headstock, said tremolo bridge comprising:

a base plate including at least one pivot point, said at least one pivot point of said base plate engaging said V-shaped notch to allow for tilting movement of the tremolo bridge along an arc;

a block extending from said base plate;

at least one spring connecting said block to said body, said at least one spring for counter-balancing the tension of the strings of the guitar and maintaining the tremolo bridge in a default position;

a tremolo arm attached to said base plate, said tremolo arm having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion attached to said base plate and said second portion extending angularly from said first portion, said first portion defining a first portion axis along a length thereof, said tremolo arm being rotatable about a swing axis defined generally parallel to said first portion axis and connected to said base plate; and

an adjustable locking mechanism for locking the position of the tremolo bridge relative to said arc, wherein said adjustable locking mechanism is configured for locking the position of the tremolo bridge relative to said arc when the tremolo bridge is not in the default position, said adjustable locking mechanism connected to said first portion of said tremolo arm whereby said tremolo arm is rotatable between an unlocked position in which said tremolo bridge is capable of tilting freely along said arc, and a locked position in which said tremolo bridge is locked and held in its then-current position relative to said arc.

2. The tremolo bridge of claim 1, wherein said adjustable locking mechanism comprises a body plate fixed to said body, and a pressure pin for contacting said body plate, said pressure pin attached to said block, said pressure pin having a length defining a pressure pin axis.

3. The tremolo bridge of claim 2, wherein said block defines a contact surface generally perpendicular to said pressure pin axis.

4. The tremolo bridge of claim 3, wherein said pressure pin can be moved in a first direction along said pressure pin axis towards said contact surface, and wherein said pressure pin can be moved in a second direction along said pressure pin axis away from said contact surface.

5. The tremolo bridge of claim 4, wherein said pressure pin has a first end terminating in a tip, wherein said body plate comprises a locking portion configured for receipt between said tip and said contact surface, wherein in said locked position said locking portion is held via compression between said tip and said contact surface, and wherein in said unlocked position said locking portion is not held via compression between said tip and said contact surface.

6. The tremolo bridge of claim 5, wherein said pressure pin has a first end terminating in an boss, wherein said tremolo arm further comprises a cam member configured for engaging said boss, wherein rotation of said tremolo arm into said locked position causes said cam member to engage said boss and move said pressure pin in said first direction.

7. The tremolo bridge of claim 6, wherein said adjustable locking mechanism further comprises a biasing portion for biasing said pressure pin in said second direction.

8. The tremolo bridge of claim 7, wherein rotation of said tremolo arm into said unlocked position allows said biasing portion to cause the tip to disengage from said locking portion.

9. The tremolo bridge of claim 1, wherein said adjustable locking mechanism comprises a body plate fixed to said body, and a pressure pin for contacting said body plate, said pressure pin attached to said block, said pressure pin having a length defining a pressure pin axis, wherein said block defines a contact surface generally perpendicular to said pressure pin axis, wherein said pressure pin can be moved in a first direction along said pressure pin axis towards said contact surface, and wherein said pressure pin can be moved in a second direction along said pressure pin axis away between said tip and said contact surface, and wherein in said unlocked position said locking portion is not held via compression between said tip and said contact surface, wherein said pressure pin has a first end terminating in an boss, wherein said adjustable locking mechanism further comprises an electro-mechanical actuator configured for engaging said boss, wherein rotation of said tremolo arm into said locked position causes said electro-mechanical actuator to engage said boss and move said pressure pin in said first direction.

10. The tremolo bridge of claim 9, wherein said adjustable locking mechanism further comprises a biasing portion for biasing said pressure pin in said second direction, wherein rotation of said tremolo arm into said unlocked position causes said electro-mechanical actuator to disengage, allowing said biasing portion to cause the tip to disengage from said locking portion.

11. The tremolo bridge of claim 1, wherein said adjustable locking mechanism comprises a brake rod pivotally attached to said block, said brake rod having a length, and a body plate fixed to said body, said body plate comprising a brake portion configured for receiving at least a portion of the length of said brake rod therethrough.

12. The tremolo bridge of claim 11, wherein said brake portion is configured for selectively engaging and disengaging said brake rod.

13. The tremolo bridge of claim 12, wherein said brake portion further comprises an electronic actuator.

14. The tremolo bridge of claim 13, wherein adjustable locking mechanism comprises a sensor, wherein a user of said guitar and utilize the sensor to selectively engage and disengage said brake rod.

15. A tremolo bridge for a guitar comprising a body, a neck attached to said body, a headstock attached to said neck, a plurality of tuners disposed on said headstock and adjacent the neck, at least one post extending from said body, each of said at least one post further comprising a V-shaped notch, and a plurality of strings, whereby each string of said plurality of strings is attached to the tremolo bridge, extends along the neck of the guitar, and is attached to a corresponding one of said plurality of tuners disposed on the headstock, said tremolo bridge comprising:

a base plate including at least one pivot point, said at least one pivot point of said base plate engaging said V-shaped notch to allow for tilting movement of the tremolo bridge along an arc;

a block extending from said base plate, said block defining a contact surface generally perpendicular to a pressure pin axis;

a tremolo arm attached to said base plate, said tremolo arm having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion attached to said base plate and said second portion extending angularly from said first portion, said first portion defining a first portion axis along a length thereof, said tremolo arm being rotatable about a swing axis defined generally parallel to said first portion axis and connected to said base plate, said tremolo arm capable of locking said tremolo bridge in a fixed position relative to said body thereby preventing tilting movement of the tremolo bridge;

a tremolo axle, said tremolo having a first and second end, said first end rotatably attached to said first portion of said tremolo arm so that said tremolo arm is rotatable between an unlocked position in which said tremolo bridge is capable of tilting freely and a locked position in which said tremolo bridge is held in a position fixed to said guitar; and

a lock mechanism for locking said tremolo bridge in a fixed position relative to said guitar, said locking mechanism comprising a body plate fixed to said body, and a pressure pin for contacting said body plate, said pressure pin attached to said block which is connected to said second end of said tremolo axle, said pressure pin having a length defining said pressure pin axis, said lock mechanism engaging said tremolo bridge when in said locked position by exerting force against said body plate, said body plate thereby exerting force against said tremolo bridge, locking said tremolo bridge, thus fixing said bridge in its then-current position relative to said guitar.

16. The tremolo bridge of claim 15, wherein said pressure pin can be moved in a first direction along said pressure pin axis towards said contact surface, and wherein said pressure pin can be moved in a second direction along said pressure pin axis away from said contact surface.

17. The tremolo bridge of claim 16, wherein said pressure pin has a first end terminating in a tip, wherein said body plate comprises a locking portion configured for receipt between said tip and said contact surface, wherein in said locked position said locking portion is held via compression between said tip and said contact surface, and wherein in said unlocked position said locking portion is not held via compression between said tip and said contact surface.

18. The tremolo bridge of claim 17, wherein said pressure pin has a first end terminating in a boss, wherein said tremolo arm further comprises a cam member configured for engaging said boss, wherein rotation of said tremolo arm into said locked portion causes said cam member to engage said boss and move said pressure pin in said first direction.

19. The tremolo bridge of claim 18, wherein said locking mechanism further comprises a biasing portion for biasing said pressure pin in a second direction wherein rotation of said tremolo arm into said unlocked position allows said biasing portion to cause the tip to disengage from said locking portion.

20. A tremolo bridge for a guitar comprising a body, a neck attached to said body, a headstock attached to said neck, a plurality of tuners disposed on said headstock and adjacent the neck, at least one post extending from said body, each of said at least one post further comprising a V-shaped notch, and a plurality of strings, whereby each string of said plurality of strings is attached to the tremolo bridge, extends along the neck of the guitar, and is attached to a corresponding one of said plurality of tuners disposed on the headstock, said tremolo bridge comprising:

a base plate including at least one pivot point, said at least one pivot point of said base plate engaging said V-shaped notch to allow for tilting movement of the tremolo bridge along an arc;

a tremolo arm attached to said base plate, said tremolo arm having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion attached to said base plate and said second portion extending angularly from said first portion, said first portion defining a first portion axis along a length thereof, said tremolo arm being rotatable about a swing axis defined generally parallel to said first portion axis and connected to said base plate;

a sensor for generating a signal, said sensor capable of transmitting said signal, said sensor capable of being placed in a locked position and an unlocked position, said locked position capable of locking said tremolo bridge in its then-current position relative to said arc, said unlocked position capable of allowing said tremolo bridge to tilt freely along said arc;

an electronic actuator for receiving said signal, said actuator operably connected to said sensor, said actuator capable of moving in an engaging direction in response to said signal, said actuator capable of moving in a disengaging direction in response to said signal, said actuator further comprising a biasing portion for biasing said actuator in said disengaging direction, wherein placing said sensor into said unlocked position causes said actuator to disengage, allowing said biasing portion to cause the actuator to disengage from said locked position; and

a locking system for locking said tremolo bridge in a fixed position relative to said body, said locking system having a brake rod pivotally attached to said tremolo bridge, a body plate fixed to said body, said body plate comprising a brake portion configured for receiving at least a portion of the length of said brake rod therethrough, said brake operably connected to said actuator, wherein a user of said guitar utilizes said sensor to selectively engage and disengage said locking system, said tremolo bridge locked in its then-current position relative to said arc when engaged and said tremolo bridge capable of tilting freely along said arc when disengaged.