Strings Patents (Class 84/199)
  • Patent number: 9728169
    Abstract: A viscoelastic polymer matrix is used for configuration and adjustment of acoustical properties of a musical string for bowed and plucked instruments; the polymer matrix is not covering the surface of the string but is provided between the core and the at least one sheath or between wound sheaths around the core: The polymer matrix comprises a polymeric binding agent and insoluble, sub-micrometer size, nano-scale solid state particles embedded in the binding agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Larsen Strings A/S
    Inventor: Thomas Zwieg
  • Patent number: 9502008
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving the decibel level decay characteristics of excited strings for stringed musical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: Phillip Jason Everly
  • Patent number: 7781655
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a string for a musical instrument comprising duplex stainless steel. The string has high mechanical strength and a high resistance to relaxation. Also, the corrosion resistance is high. Therefore, the string according to the present disclosure has a long service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventors: Sina Vosough, Anders Söderman
  • Patent number: 7777108
    Abstract: A string for musical instrument is disclosed, the string formed from precipitation hardening stainless steel, where Ti has been added to improve the precipitation hardening properties. The string has a superior resistance to relaxation and is corrosion resistant, thus improving its tuning stability and maintaining its tone quality, thus prolonging its service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventors: Sina Vosough, Goran Berglund
  • Patent number: 7714217
    Abstract: A coated string for a stringed device which includes a coating applied to the surface of the string. The coating includes a base layer bonded to the surface of the string and an at least partially transparent low-friction top coat applied to the base layer. The base layer includes heat activated pigments that change color when heated above a color shifting temperature. In one embodiment, the color of the pigment in one area contrasts with the color of the pigment in an adjacent area without otherwise affecting the low-friction surface of the coating. The areas of different color created in locations along the length of the low-friction coated string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Innovatech, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Nesbitt
  • Publication number: 20100064875
    Abstract: A stringed musical instrument includes a string which, when vibrated, produces sound. Both ends of the vibrating portion of the string touch glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Mark C. Payung
  • Publication number: 20090308220
    Abstract: A piano (1) having a dense sound-enhancing component (2), said piano (1) having a case (6), a frame (3) located within the case (6), strings (5) located within the frame (3), keys (9) in connection with hammers (11), two bridges (13) each of stone having a top face (27), a bottom face (28), a first side (29) and a second side (30), bridge pins (16) extending from the top face (27) at an angle, the strings (5) extending across the bridges (13) adjacent to the bridge pins (16), a soundboard (4) and an amount of epoxy (18) located between the bridges (13) and soundboard (4). The dense sound-enhancing component (2) is a stone material, preferably granite, and enhances the sound of the piano (1) by holding and sustaining pitch longer, providing a longer and stronger signal, providing a higher volume or decibel level and having a decreased decibel fall-off as compared to conventional pianos utilizing wood bridge(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Robert B. DiSanto
  • Patent number: 7560628
    Abstract: A steel wire (e.g., a piano wire) for use in a stringed musical instrument is designed to have a specific chemical composition in which phosphorus content ranges from 0.015 weight percent to 0.050 weight percent, wherein the total decarburized layer depth of a decarburized layer formed on the surface, which is subjected to decarburized depth measurement using a microscope method as defined in the Japanese Industrial Standard JIS G 0588, is reduced to 2 ?m or less. Other chemical substances included in the chemical composition of the steel wire are preferably defined in the standard JIS G 3502 regarding chemical compositions of piano wires. In manufacturing, a rolled steel material is subjected to wire drawing and patenting under prescribed conditions, wherein the sound quality realized by the steel wire installed in a stringed musical instrument can be noticeably improved by adopting both chemical composition control and total decarburized layer depth control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Norihito Yamao, Tatsuji Nagai, Tetsuo Myo
  • Patent number: 7531730
    Abstract: A method of protecting musical instrument strings comprising the steps of applying a fluorochemical acrylate polymer coating carried in a hydrofluoroether solvent to the strings of a musical instrument, so as to leave a low surface energy film covering the strings at a thickness of less than one micron which is resistant to oils and dirt, and provides virtually no interference with the sound generating properties of the string. The polymer coating is non-toxic, non-ozone depleting, non-flammable and contains not volatile organic compounds. The polymer is insoluble in solvents including heptane, toluene and water, however it is soluble in fluorinated solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Inventor: Phillip Jason Everly
  • Patent number: 7246703
    Abstract: A packaging system for musical instrument strings comprising: a cylindrical disk-shaped casing comprising a top casing member and a mate-able bottom casing member; and at least one insertable string module, said module comprising a flat disk for supporting a wound string and a rim surrounding the outer periphery of the disk to support and hold the string on to the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: James D'Aquisto
  • Patent number: 6677511
    Abstract: A string for musical instrument has a sound-generating portion and at least one mounting portion connected to and extending the length of the sound-generating portion, wherein the mounting portion serves to connect the string to the musical instrument. The sound-generating portion and the mounting portion are of different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Velvet Strings SA
    Inventor: Gerold Genssler
  • Patent number: 6580021
    Abstract: An improved vibratory string is provided for use in musical instruments such as pianos, guitars, violins and the like. The string is formed from one or more wires of a selected alloy material, such as Ni—Ti alloy, having desired superelastic properties at ambient room temperature. Such a vibratory string tensioned or strained to its superelastic state has improved harmonic and tonal stability characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: Jonathan A. Barney
  • Patent number: 6465721
    Abstract: The improved musical string includes a prior art core wire assembly including a core wire and a terminal end. The cover wire has an end portion that is bent around the terminal end portion of the core wire, and the cover wire is then wound the core wire to form the musical string. The improved cover wire winding machine includes a headstock with a rotatable spindle and a core wire terminal end mounting hook. A cover wire mounting sleeve is slidably and rotatably engaged to the spindle and functions to mechanically engage an end of the cover wire and to bend it into engagement with the core wire terminal end following engagement, the cover wire is wound around the core wire to produce the improved musical string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Landtroop, Donald A. Dykstra
  • Patent number: 6248942
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Hebestreit, David J. Myers
  • Patent number: 6057498
    Abstract: An improved vibratory string is provided for use in musical instruments such as pianos, guitars, violins and the like. The string is formed from one or more wires of a selected alloy material, such as Ni--Ti alloy, having desired superelastic properties at ambient room temperature. Such a vibratory string tensioned or strained to its superelastic state has improved harmonic and tonal stability characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventor: Jonathan A. Barney
  • Patent number: 5984226
    Abstract: Wound strings for a musical instrument include inharmonicity compensation. A portion of the wound string, preferably at one or both ends thereof, includes a concentric winding. The concentric winding has a length l.sub.comp given by: ##EQU1## where D.sub.s is the outer diameter of portions of the wound string remote from the compensating winding, D.sub.comp is the diameter of the wound string at the compensating winding, d is the diameter of the core wire and l.sub.bare is the length of the bare end of the string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Inventronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert E. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 5945615
    Abstract: A set of strings for use with a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The set of strings may include one string or a plurality of strings wherein each string has a predetermined length selected to correspond with a convergence length at which harmonic and pitch tuning are simultaneously obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Floyd D. Rose
  • Patent number: 5907113
    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. In particularly preferred embodiments, a cover is applied over a portion of the length of the string having a relatively reduced variable mass. The result is that the string has relatively uniform mass along its entire length thereby assuring correct intonation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Hebestreit, David J. Myers
  • Patent number: 5900314
    Abstract: The plastic material called PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) in polymeric chains in the form of continuous monofilaments or multifilaments is used for making the strings of plucked and bowed musical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventors: Mimmo Peruffo, Gianfranco Lovato
  • Patent number: 5892166
    Abstract: A wound musical string includes a core wire and a wrapped wire covering about the core wire. End turns of the wrapped wire covering are coextensive portions of transition sections of the core wire. The transition sections have equilateral triangular, square or other cross sections such that the cross section exhibits equal principal moments of inertia. Consequently the inharmonicity of the string about two axes will be the same and the string will not produce false beats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Inventronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert E. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 5883319
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Hebestreit, David J. Myers
  • Patent number: 5817960
    Abstract: Wound strings for a musical instrument include inharmonicity compensation. A portion of the wound string, preferably at one or both ends thereof, includes a concentric winding. The concentric winding has a length l.sub.comp given by: ##EQU1## where D.sub.s is the outer diameter of portions of the wound string remote from the compensating winding, D.sub.comp is the diameter of the wound string at the compensating winding, d is the diameter of the core wire and l.sub.bare is the length of the bare end of the string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Inventronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert E. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 5801319
    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. In particularly preferred embodiments, a cover is applied over a portion of the length of the string having a relatively reduced variable mass. The result is that the string has relatively uniform mass along its entire length thereby assuring correct intonation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Hebestreit, David J. Myers, Joseph A. Huppenthal, Glenn T. Bethke
  • Patent number: 5705760
    Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The stringed instrument comprises a body, a fretboard mounted on the body, a nut mounted on the body at one side of the fretboard, a bridge including a plurality of bridge critical contact surfaces mounted on the body at an opposing side of the fretboard and being arranged at a selectively adjustable distance with respect to the nut. The stringed instrument also comprises a plurality of strings each of which has a first end and a second end and a predetermined length extending between the first and second ends. The plurality of strings are arranged in contact with corresponding bridge critical contact surfaces and the nut and are arranged to extend across the contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Floyd D. Rose
  • Patent number: 5700965
    Abstract: A set of strings for use with a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The set of strings may include one string or a plurality of strings wherein each string has a predetermined length selected to correspond with a convergence length at which harmonic and pitch tuning are simultaneously obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: Floyd D. Rose
  • Patent number: 5610348
    Abstract: There is provided a discant string construction for classic and flamenco guitars having a polyfilament core formed of a group of non-twisted with respect to each other synthetic filaments, a first covering layer of metal wire spirally wound in tight contact coils, and a second covering layer of plastic material covering the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Inventors: Alexander Aladin, Irina M. Aladina, Bernd Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5587541
    Abstract: A string for a musical instrument comprises a thermoplastic aromatic polyetherketone and has a value of E/.rho..sup.2 which is not greater than 5.times.10.sup.3, where E is Young's modulus of the string material measured in N/m.sup.2 and .rho. is the density of the string material measured in kg/m.sup.3. Such a musical instrument string may have significantly lower internal damping than previously available strings, may show low inharmonicity, and may be unaffected by ambient humidity changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Zyex Limited
    Inventors: Bruce M. McIntosh, Francis S. Smith, Noel A. Briscoe
  • Patent number: 5578775
    Abstract: A string for use on musical instrument is made of a core wire composed of long filaments, sheathed with a thick mantle of a precious metal such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, or the like, or of other metal (5) having excellent ductility, or of an alloy of these metals, or of a synthetic resin or ceramic. It becomes possible to change the density per unit length, thus to enable the adjustment of sound quality and the attenuation rate, and the selection of the basic vibration frequency. It also becomes possible to adjust the tensile strength of the string, thus to enable the selection of the tensile strength and the density in accordance with the type of the musical instrument which is strung and the type (number) of the string. It also becomes possible to maintain the sound quality of the wound wire for bass strings for a long term, and to take easily countermeasures against abrasion with a partial hardening treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Keisuke Ito
  • Patent number: 5535658
    Abstract: An improved musical instrument string comprising a core wire. A plurality of inner wrap wires are helically wound concentrically about a central portion of the core wire. The central portion of the core wire is of an elongated length. An outer wrap wire is helically wound concentrically about the complete length of the inner wrap wires and most of the side portions of the core wire. Opposite ends of the core wire extend outwardly from the outer wrap wire. The outer wrap wire will retain the inner wrap wires in place on the central portion of the core wire, so that the inner wrap wires cannot loosen and will last longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Antonio Kalosdian
  • Patent number: 5427008
    Abstract: Core materials for strings for musical instruments of a twist of two or more multifilaments composed of a vinylidene fluoride resin. The multifilament core has a diameter of 0.1 to 5 mm, an elongation of 10 to 50%, a tensile strength of at least 30 kg/mm.sup.2, a creep elongation of at most 15% and a Young's modulus of at least 200 kg/mm.sup.2. The multifilament is made of monofilaments each having a diameter of 1 to 300 .mu.m, a dispersion diameter of at most 20%/m, a specific gravity of at least 1.6, an inherent viscosity of 0.85 to 1.6 dl/g, an apparent viscosity of 12,000 to 100,000 poise and a birefringence of 30.times.10.sup.-3. Strings for violins, cellos and the like are made by tightly wrapping the core with a metal string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Kureha Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisaaki Ueba, Kazuaki Ohashi, Yosio Sunaga
  • Patent number: 5408911
    Abstract: A method of treating a nylon or other non-ferromagnetic musical instrument string so that its movement is detectable by a ferromagnetic pickup includes applying ferromagnetic material to a portion of the string when the string is mounted to an instrument. The preferred method is to paint the string with a fluid material comprising a suspension of nickel particles in a solvent, and permitting the solvent to evaporate to leave a residue of nickel particles on the string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Lyrrus, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Weiss, Jonathan Grayson, Jonathan Coppersmith
  • Patent number: 5372057
    Abstract: A set of strings for a stringed musical instrument. Each string of the set is attached at one end to a bead to anchor the string in one of the bridge pins. The opposite end of the string is affixed to a pin having a diameter adapted to fit in the bore in a conventional post. The length of the string between the bead and the pin is at least equal to the distance between the bridge pin and the rotatable string post but not greater than the sum of said distance and the circumference of the post. Thus the post is tightened less than one revolution in order to tune the string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Inventor: Joseph Hart
  • Patent number: 4854213
    Abstract: A music string consisting essentially of a core composed of aramide fibers and a wound sheath on the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Dr. Thomastik und Mitarbeiter Offene Handelsgesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Infeld
  • Patent number: 4829871
    Abstract: A guitar spring comprising an elongate first strand of wire (1) looped around an eyelet (2) to form a main length of wire and a shorter end piece (1.sup.1) wherein there is provided a shorter second strand (3) of wire looped around the eyelet (2) to form two limbs, the main length, end piece and two limbs being twisted together to unite the strands and secure the eyelet embraced by the strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Inventor: Hugh Manson
  • Patent number: 4674386
    Abstract: An augmented bass hammer striking distance is provided in both upright and grand pianos. At least those strings in the bass section having an optimum striking distance (d) to speaking length (L) ratio (d/L) of a value greater than 1/7 have their hammers located at a striking distance (d) along their lengths as determined by their optimum d/L value. The hammers of all of the bass section strings can be so located. Alternatively, the hammers of those bass section strings having an optimum value of d/L of 1/7 or less can be conventionally located at the same striking distance (d) determined from a preselected d/L value falling within the range of 1/7 to 1/9, or can be incrementally varied. When the lowest few strings of the bass section appear to have subjectively less apparent fullness of tone, the striking distance of the lowest few strings can be shortened string-by-string toward the low end of the bass section by amounts which will modify their subjective d/L - dependent pitch in 100-cent increments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Baldwin Piano & Organ Company
    Inventor: Harold A. Conklin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4539228
    Abstract: The microscopic pores, cavities and crevices of the strings and the interstices of a wound string are filled with dry lubricant particles using a moisture displacing agent and rust inhibitor as a carrier for the dry lubricant. This provides lubrication and inhibits corrosion, thus shortening initial break in periods and extending string life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Inventor: Arnold Lazarus
  • Patent number: 4383465
    Abstract: Wrapped strings for musical instruments having a predetermined speaking length, wherein the wrapping wire is wound on the core wire to provide uniformly spaced helical convolutions spaced from each other by a distance at least as great as the diameter of the wrapping wire, the wrapping wire having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the core wire, said wrapped strings being so wrapped only within the speaking lengths of the strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: Baldwin Piano & Organ Company
    Inventor: Harold A. Conklin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4135429
    Abstract: A piano bass string includes a load carrying wire and at least one wire encircling the load carrying wire with the encircling wire made up of a tubular casing of a drawable material and a core which is heavier than the drawable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Inventor: Klaus-Peter Heyne