Tuning apparatus for stringed instrument

• US 7,470,841 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geoffrey L. McCabe
• Original Assignee: Geoffrey L. McCabe
• Inventors: McCabe, Geoffrey L
• Primary Examiner(s): Lockett; Kimberly R
• Application Number:
  US09/830,279
• Time in Patent Office: 3,745 Days
• Field of Search: 843/12.R, 843/13, 843/14, 843/14.R, 843/14.N, 84298-302, 843/07
• US Class Current: 84/312.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/153 Tremolo devices

Abstract

A stringed musical instrument is provided with a tremolo with a unitary base plate formed from a single folded or bent plate including a spring attachment means portion so that the tremolo is connected directly to the biasing springs; such a folded construction also includes multiple tiers stamped into the base plate portion for displacing the height of the second critical point on the intonation modules relative to the body of the instrument; the spring attachment means portion is fashioned such that the openings for anchoring the ends of the strings are aligned to openings in the base plate for threading the strings through the intonation modules. Additionally, intonation modules include alternative means for anchoring the strings located a critical distance from the second critical point essentially equal to the length of the anchoring portion or the reinforcement windings of the strings but not sufficient in length to engage the second critical point so as to render that portion of the string between the second critical point and the string anchor substantially inextensible.

Claims

1. A tuning apparatus for a stringed musical instrument comprising:

a body and

a neck extending outwardly from said body,

a plurality of strings extending from the body to the neck,

a first critical point for each of said strings on the neck,

a second critical point for each of the strings on the body,

the apparatus further comprising;

a base comprising a forward end and a rearward end and upper portion and a lower portion, comprising;

a bridge element connected to the base, the bridge element located closer to the forward end forming a second critical point; and

a first portion connected to the base and located in the rearward end forming an alternate string anchoring point closer to the lower portion than the second critical point, and

wherein the lower portion being attached to the upper portion and the lower portion comprises;

a second portion that is transverse to the alternate string anchoring point;

and a first string anchoring point.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a fulcrum tremolo.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper portion further comprises:

a string opening located between the first anchoring point and the second critical point, and

wherein the second portion further comprises;

a member with a string passageway connected to the second anchoring point having an axis, the axis being aligned to the string opening in the upper portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a fulcrum tremolo.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a bridge element and

a tailpiece element connected to the bridge element, the tailpiece comprising;

a first portion having a rearward surface having a string anchoring point comprising a recess formed to receive a string anchor therein and

a second portion that is transverse to the first portion comprising;

a first end that connects the second portion to the first portion;

a second end, the second end having an alternate string anchoring point comprising a recess formed to receive a string anchor and an elongated passageway that extends through the second portion from the first end to the second end, along a longitudinal axis of the second portion, forming at least one opening on each end.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a body;

a fulcrum tremolo;

a biasing element comprising a first end connected to the fulcrum tremolo and a second end connected to the body; and

at least one biasing element holder; and

a singular apparatus directly connected to the biasing element the singular apparatus comprising;

a thumbwheel portion operable to position the at least one biasing element holder,

wherein rotation of the thumbwheel portion alters the bias applied by the biasing element.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the singular apparatus further comprises:

a U-shaped spring.

8. An apparatus for a stringed musical instrument comprising:

a body; and

a fulcrum tremolo,

the apparatus comprising;

a biasing element, the biasing element comprising at least one spring comprising a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end positioned opposite from each other on the at least one spring, the at least one spring positioned between the fulcrum tremolo and the body;

a spring holder connected to the biasing element;

a singular apparatus in direct contact with the at least one spring, the singular apparatus comprising a thumbwheel and

a threaded elongated portion, the threaded elongated portion threadedly connected to the singular apparatus and the threaded elongated portion threadedly connected to the singular apparatus,

wherein rotation of the thumbwheel alters the bias applied by the at least one spring.

9. The apparatus of cliam 8, wherein the singular apparatus further comprises:

a secondary spring holder being threadedly engaged with the threaded elongated portion, and

wherein the fulcrum tremolo being positioned between the thumbwheel and the secondary spring holder.

10. The apparatus of cliam 8, wherein the spring holder being positioned between the thumbwheel and the biasing element.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a secondary spring holder connected to the biasing element,

wherein the thumbwheel further comprises a second elongated threaded portion, wherein the fulcrum tremolo further comprises a threaded opening, and

wherein the thumbwheel is positioned between the secondary spring holder and the threaded opening.

12. A fulcrum tremolo with a forward end and a rearward end, the fulcrum tremolo comprising:

a base plate comprising a string hole,

a spring holder that is transverse to the base plate comprising;

a tailpiece,

the tailpiece comprising a string anchoring point; and

a string passageway having an axis wherein a longitudinal axis of the string passageway aligns with the string hole;

an intonation module attached to the spring holder comprising;

a bridge element connected to the base, the bridge element located closer to the forward end than the rearward end and

wherein the rearward portion forms an alternate tailpiece, the alternate tailpiece comprising an alternate string anchoring point; and

wherein the alternate string anchoring point is located a distance from the second critical point so that a string is rendered essentially inextensible between the alternate string anchoring point and the second critical point.

13. The fulcrum tremolo of claim 12, wherein the intonation module further comprises:

a macro tuner.

14. A tremolo for a stringed musical instrument comprising:

at least one bridge element; and

a unitary component that is a single piece of bent material comprising;

a base plate being approximately planar, 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 one 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, and

wherein the unitary component is connected to the at least one bridge element.

15. The tremolo of claim 14, wherein the transverse portion further comprises:

at least one string socket.

16. A fulcrum tremolo for a stringed musical instrument comprising:

a unitary component that is a single piece of bent material comprising;

a base plate being approximately planar, 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;

a first bend in the unitary component at an opposite end of the forward

edge of the base plate;

and a transverse portion comprising;

at least one spring socket to receive an end of at least one biasing element,

wherein the first bend transitions the base plate to the transverse portion,

and

wherein the first bend and the transverse portion are approximately parallel to the pivot axis,

at least one bridge element connected to the unitary component.

17. The fulcrum tremolo of claim 16, wherein the first bend further comprises:

a reinforcement.

18. The fulcrum tremolo of claim 16, wherein the transverse portion further comprises:

at least one string socket to receive an end of a string.

19. The fulcrum tremolo of claim 18, wherein the base plate further comprises at least one string hole, and

wherein the transverse portion further comprises:

an upper portion;

a lower portion comprising at least one string passageway, each of the at least one string passageway is aligned with at least one of the least one string hole in the base plate; and

at least one second bend that transitions from the upper portion to the lower portion,

wherein the lower portion is approximately parallel to the pivot axis.

20. The fulcrum tremolo of claim 18, wherein the base plate further comprises:

at least one tier for displacing the at least one bridge element from the base plate.

21. The fulcrum tremolo of claim 16, wherein the transverse portion further comprises:

the at least one string socket.

22. The fulcrum tremolo of claim 16, wherein the pivot further comprises:

a pivot having a knife edge.

23. The fulcrum tremolo of claim 16, wherein the pivot further comprises:

a pivot having a beveled edge.

24. The fulcrum tremolo of claim 16, wherein the pivot further comprises:

at least a portion of a ball bearing surface.

25. The fulcrum tremolo of claim 16, wherein the pivot further comprises:

at least a portion of a ball bearing surface; and

at least a portion of a shaft.

26. A fulcrum tremolo for a stringed musical instrument comprising:

at least one bridge element; and

a unitary component that is a single piece of bent plate material having a substantial uniform thickness comprising;

a base plate being approximately planar, comprising;

a pivot forming a pivot axis;

at least one bend in the base plate;

at least one additional portion formed to receive at least a portion of at least one bearing assembly,

wherein the at least one bend and the at least one additional portion have an axis approximately parallel to the pivot axis, and

wherein the unitary component is connected to the at least one bridge element.

27. A fulcrum tremolo for a stringed musical instrument

comprising

at least one bridge element;

and

a base plate being approximately planar, comprising;

a forward edge, and;

at least one additional portion formed to receive at least a portion of at least one bearing assembly;

the at least one bearing assembly, comprising;

at least a portion of a shaft, at least one housing,

at least a portion of a ball bearing surface, and at least one annular flange

wherein the at least one annular flange spaces the at least a portion of at least one bearing assembly way from the base plate.

28. A bridge-tailpiece for a stringed musical instrument comprising:

a fulcrum tremolo, the fulcrum tremolo further comprising;

an element to receive at least one musical instrument string, the element comprising;

a first string anchoring point for each string; and

an alternate string anchoring point for each string; and

an intonation module with a forward portion and a rearward portion;

the intonation module comprising;

a base;

a bridge element connected to the base, the bridge element located closer to the forward end forming a second critical point; and

wherein the rearward portion forms a string anchoring point closer to the base than the second critical point; and

wherein the string anchoring point is located a critical distance from the second critical point operable to render a string as approximately inextensible between the anchoring point and the second critical point;

and

a biasing element comprising a first end connected to the fulcrum tremolo and a second end connected to the body; and

at least one biasing element holder; and

a singular apparatus connected to the fulcrum tremolo, the singular apparatus comprising;

a thumbwheel portion operable to position the at least one biasing element holder,

wherein rotation of the thumbwheel portion adjusts the equilibrium point between the tension of the strings and the tension of the biasing element to adjust initial position;

and

an unitary component that is a single piece of bent material comprising;

a base plate being approximately planar, 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 first bend in the unitary component;

and a transverse portion comprising;

at least one spring socket to receive an end of at least one biasing element,

wherein the first bend transitions the base plate to the transverse portion,

and

wherein the first bend and the transverse portion are approximately parallel to the pivot axis;

the unitary component further comprising;

at least one additional portion formed to receive at least a portion of at least one bearing assembly,

wherein the at least one bend and the at least one additional portion have an axis approximately parallel to the pivot axis, and

wherein the unitary component is connected to the at least one bridge element.

29. A fulcrum tremolo for a 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 wherein the fulcrum tremolo comprises a macro tuner:

the macrotuner having a forward end closer the nut and a rearward end further the nut, the macro tuner comprising;

base;

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

an elongated portion slideably connected to the base;

a string holder element, the string holder further comprises a tailpiece, and

an adjustment screw connected to the base operable to position the elongated portion;

the elongated member, the adjustment screw and the string holder located on the opposite side of the second critical point from the first critical point,

wherein threading the adjustment screw is operable to position the string holder element to change tension of strings.

30. The macro tuner of claim 29, wherein the base further comprises a restricted portion,

the elongated member further comprises:

a clamping portion closer to the second critical point;

a sting passageway; and

an annular flange, and

wherein the annular flange is in varying contact with the restricted portion;

wherein threading the adjustment screw to tension a string is operable to clamp the string between the second critical point and the tailpiece.

31. A macro tuner having a front end and a rearward end, the macro tuner comprising:

a bridge element located closer the front end forming an intonation point;

an elongated member slideably connected to the macro tuner, the elongated member located on the opposite side of the bridge element from the front end,

an adjustment screw connected to the macro tuner operable to position the elongated member;

the adjustment screw located on the opposite side of the bridge element from the front end,

a string holder element connected to the elongated member located on the opposite side of the bridge element from the front end, the strong holder element comprising a tailpiece comprising a string anchoring point,

wherein threading the adjustment screw is operable to position the string holder element to tension a string, and

wherein the macro tuner is located on an apparatus consisting of a fulcrum tremolo.