Strings for musical instruments

• US 20010000857A1
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Published: 05/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Charles G. Hebestreit, David J. Myers
• Inventors: Myers, David J., Hebestreit, Charles G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,528,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/120
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/10 Strings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2929 Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type]

Abstract

An improved musical instrument string is provided. The string includes a polymer cover that protects the string, from contamination while maintaining the original “lively” sound of the musical string. By supplying the cover over a conventional string and preferable over a conventional wound string, the string is protected against contamination while also making the string easier to play. The preferred cover comprises at least one layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) that is most preferably sealed with a polymer coating.

Claims

1. A guitar comprising

at least one wound string having a core and a winding mounted around the core;

a covering surrounding the winding, said covering having been applied to the winding prior to the winding being mounted around the core;

wherein the covering is substantially non-dampening to the tonal quality of the string.

2. The guitar of

claim 1

wherein the covering comprises a film membrane.

3. The guitar of

claim 2

wherein the film membrane comprises a fluoropolymer.

4. The guitar of

claim 3

wherein the fluoropolymer comprises an expanded PTFE.

5. The guitar of

claim 3

wherein the film membrane comprises an expanded PTFE and FEP.

6. The guitar of

claim 1

wherein the covering provides cushioning of the wound string against a musician'"'"'s fingers.

7. The guitar of

claim 1

wherein the covering provides diminished extraneous squeak noise from the wound string as compared to strings without a covering.

8. The guitar of

claim 1

wherein the covering protects the wound string from contamination.

9. The guitar of

claim 1

wherein the covering protects the wound string from corrosion.

10. The guitar of

claim 1

wherein the covering is lubricious.

11. The guitar of

claim 1

wherein the covering permits relatively free movement of the winding during play.

12. The guitar of

claim 1

wherein the covering is sufficiently durable to withstand abrasion occasioned by playing of the wound string.

13. A guitar comprising

at least one string having a core and a winding mounted around the core;

a polymer coating surrounding the winding, said polymer coating having been applied to the winding prior to the winding being mounted around the core;

wherein the polymer coating is substantially non-dampening to the tonal quality of the string.

14. The guitar of

claim 13

wherein the polymer coating comprises a polyurethane.

15. The guitar of

claim 13

wherein the polymer coating comprises a fluoropolymer.

16. The guitar of

claim 15

wherein the fluoropolymer comprises an FEP.

17. The guitar of

claim 13

wherein the polymer coating provides cushioning of the wound string against a musician'"'"'s fingers.

18. The guitar of

claim 13

wherein the polymer coating provides diminished extraneous squeak noise from the wound string as compared to strings without a polymer coating.

19. The guitar of

claim 13

wherein the polymer coating protects the wound string from contamination.

20. The guitar of

claim 13

wherein the polymer coating protects the wound string from corrosion.

21. The guitar of

claim 13

wherein the polymer coating is lubricious.

22. The guitar of

claim 13

wherein the polymer coating permits relatively free movement of the winding during play.

23. The guitar of

claim 13

wherein the polymer coating is sufficiently durable to withstand abrasion occasioned by playing of the wound string.

24. A musical instrument having a fret board comprising

at least one wound string having a segment extending over the fret board;

the segment of the wound string extending over the fret board consisting of a metal core and a winding mounted around the core, the winding having a polymer coating surrounding the winding, the polymer coating having been applied to the winding prior to the winding being mounted around the core.

25. The musical instrument of

claim 24

wherein the polymer coating is substantially non-dampening to the tonal quality of the string.

26. The musical instrument of

claim 24

wherein the polymer coating comprises a polyurethane.

27. The musical instrument of

claim 24

wherein the polymer coating comprises a fluoropolymer.

28. The musical instrument of

claim 27

wherein the fluoropolymer comprises an FEP.

29. The musical instrument of

claim 24

wherein the polymer coating provides cushioning of the wound string against a musician'"'"'s fingers.

30. The musical instrument of

claim 24

wherein the polymer coating provides diminished extraneous squeak noise from the wound string as compared to strings without a polymer coating.

31. The musical instrument of

claim 24

wherein the polymer coating protects the wound string from contamination.

32. The musical instrument of

claim 24

wherein the polymer coating protects the wound string from corrosion.

33. The musical instrument of

claim 24

wherein the polymer coating is lubricious.

34. The musical instrument of

claim 24

wherein the polymer coating permits relatively free movement of the winding during play.

35. The musical instrument of

claim 24

wherein the polymer coating is sufficiently durable to withstand abrasion occasioned by playing of the wound string.

36. A musical instrument having a fret board comprising

at least one wound string having a segment extending over the fret board;

the segment of the wound string extending over the fret board consisting of a metal core and a winding mounted around the core, the winding having a covering surrounding the winding, the covering having been applied to the winding prior to the winding being mounted around the core.

37. The musical instrument of

claim 36

wherein the covering comprises a film membrane.

38. The musical instrument of

claim 37

wherein the film membrane comprises a fluoropolymer.

39. The musical instrument of

claim 38

wherein the fluoropolymer comprises an expanded PTFE.

40. The musical instrument of

claim 38

wherein the film membrane comprises an expanded PTFE and FEP.

41. The musical instrument of

claim 36

wherein the covering provides cushioning of the wound string against a musician'"'"'s fingers.

42. The musical instrument of

claim 36

wherein the covering provides diminished extraneous squeak noise from the wound string as compared to strings without a covering.

43. The musical instrument of

claim 36

wherein the covering protects the wound string from contamination.

44. The musical instrument of

claim 36

wherein the covering protects the wound string from corrosion.

45. The musical instrument of

claim 36

wherein the covering is lubricious.

46. The musical instrument of

claim 36

wherein the covering permits relatively free movement of the winding during play.

47. The musical instrument of

claim 36

wherein the covering is sufficiently durable to withstand abrasion occasioned by playing of the wound string.

48. The musical instrument of

claim 36

wherein the covering is substantially non-dampening to the tonal quality of the string.

49. A wound guitar string adapted for use on a guitar having a fingering board comprising

at least one segment configured to mount over the fingering board consisting of a metal core and a winding mounted around the core, the winding having a polymer coating surrounding the winding, the polymer coating having been applied to the winding prior to the winding being mounted around the core.

50. The guitar string of

claim 49

wherein the polymer coating is substantially non-dampening to the tonal quality of the string.

51. The guitar string of

claim 49

wherein the polymer coating comprises a polyurethane.

52. The guitar string of

claim 49

wherein the polymer coating comprises a fluoropolymer.

53. The guitar string of

claim 52

wherein the fluoropolymer comprises an FEP.

54. The guitar string of

claim 49

wherein the polymer coating provides cushioning of the wound string against a musician'"'"'s fingers.

55. The musical instrument string of

claim 49

wherein the polymer coating provides diminished extraneous squeak noise from the wound string as compared to strings without a polymer coating.

56. The guitar string of

claim 49

wherein the polymer coating protects the wound string from contamination.

57. The guitar string of

claim 49

wherein the polymer coating protects the wound string from corrosion.

58. The guitar string of

claim 49

wherein the polymer coating is lubricious.

59. The guitar string of

claim 49

wherein the polymer coating permits relatively free movement of the winding during play.

60. The guitar string of

claim 49

wherein the polymer coating is sufficiently durable to withstand abrasion occasioned by playing of the wound string.

61. A wound guitar string adapted for use on a guitar having a fingering board comprising

at least one segment configured to mount over the fingering board consisting of a metal core and a winding mounted around the core, the winding having a covering surrounding the winding, the covering having been applied to the winding prior to the winding being mounted around the core.

62. The guitar string of

claim 61

wherein the covering comprises a film membrane.

63. The guitar string of

claim 62

wherein the film membrane comprises a fluoropolymer.

64. The guitar string of

claim 63

wherein the fluoropolymer comprises an expanded PTFE.

65. The guitar string of

claim 63

wherein the film membrane comprises an expanded PTFE and FEP.

66. The guitar string of

claim 61

wherein the covering provides cushioning of the wound string against a musician'"'"'s fingers.

67. The guitar string of

claim 61

wherein the covering provides diminished extraneous squeak noise from the wound string as compared to strings without a covering.

68. The guitar string of

claim 61

wherein the covering protects the wound string from contamination.

69. The guitar string of

claim 61

wherein the covering protects the wound string from corrosion.

70. The guitar string of

claim 61

wherein the covering is lubricious.

71. The guitar string of

claim 61

wherein the covering permits relatively free movement of the winding during play.

72. The guitar string of

claim 61

wherein the covering is sufficiently durable to withstand abrasion occasioned by playing of the wound string.

73. The guitar string of

claim 61

wherein the covering is substantially non-dampening to the tonal quality of the string.