Stringed Patents (Class 84/7)
  • Publication number: 20140165814
    Abstract: “Self-playing robot guitar comprising a biodegradable skin-leathern formed carcass and a biodegradable skin-leathern formed musical plectrum, and structured protein/amino acids”. The invention relates to a robot having humanoid activity and extremities, having a carcass comprising a chordophone, in particular a guitar, the body of which is optionally skin-leathern formed. Said robot plays instrumental music on and by itself using its own hands thereof. The components of the invention are optionally made of structured proteins/amino acids. In addition, said components are food for animals and plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: Carlos Alberto Ibanez Vignolo
  • Patent number: 8492627
    Abstract: A string musical instrument comprising an instrument body having a fretboard and a plurality of electrically common and electrically conductive frets spaced along the fretboard. One or more electrically isolated and electrically conductive vibratory strings are laterally disposed on the instrument body and held in tension over and in close proximity to the frets and a picking means for each of the strings. The picking means is an actuating assembly with a power supply. The actuating assembly is electrically connected to the one or more electrically isolated and electrically conductive vibratory strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Andre DuPra
  • Patent number: 7678982
    Abstract: A device and method for automatic tuning of a string Instrument, in particular, a guitar, comprising a recording device, for recording a tone generated by striking a string and for the output of a digital signal corresponding to the recorded tone, a memory device for storage of given digital signals which correspond to a desired tone, a comparator device for comparison of the digital signal output by the recording device with a digital signal corresponding to the desired tone stored in the memory device, an adjuster device for altering the tension of the strings, at least one actuator, for operating the adjuster device, a controller connected to the comparator device, which controls the at least one actuator using a bus line, by means of a difference determined in the comparator device between the signals representing the generated tone and the desired tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Tectus Anstalt
    Inventor: Christopher Adams
  • Patent number: 7674962
    Abstract: A harp is disclosed. The harp that allows for more simplified pitch change. The harp allows for the creation of a pitch bend effect, similar to the sound of the twang of a guitar. The harp also allows for rising half tones in the strings, wherein the pitch of a string is raised by exactly one semitone. Because of the various ways to change the pitch, each string in the harp is capable of playing up to three different notes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventor: Mariano Gonzalez Ramirez
  • Patent number: 7659467
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the tension of the strings of a guitar having at least two strings, particularly an electric guitar or a bass, particularly an electric bass, in which each string of the guitar or bass is, with one end, wound on a turning peg of an adjusting mechanism mounted on the neck of the guitar or of the bass. The adjusting mechanism contains a combination consisting of a worm shaft and of a worm wheel and, due to these, is provided with a self-locking ability. The aim of the invention is to improve the design of a device of the aforementioned type so that, without considerably altering the basic shape of the guitar or of the bass, this device can automatically adjust the tension of individual strings of the instrument reliably and precisely whereby ultimately enabling them to be tuned. To this end, a drive unit for each adjusting mechanism is mounted on the neck of the guitar or of the bass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Tectus Anstalt
    Inventor: Christopher Adams
  • Patent number: 7385125
    Abstract: Marching band string instruments and wearable string instruments are described that include a stiff waist band to prevent excessive side to side movement during use, while providing easy doff and don of the string instrument. String instruments also are provided with adjustable chest braces to allow accommodation for different player sizes and for minimization of back strain when playing the electric string instrument for extended time periods. Electric string instruments optionally have soft material interposed between bridge feet and a string instrument body, to allow a more resonant sound detection from a pickup located between the bridge feet and the body. Other advances include generation of a stereo signal from bridge vibrations, and electronic processing of sound that enhances the electric string instrument playing and learning experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventor: Marvin Motsenbocker
  • Patent number: 6166307
    Abstract: An automated stringed musical instrument including a device for plucking the strings of the instrument, a device for fretting the strings, and a tension-maintaining linkage for maintaining the tension in the strings, such that the instrument can be remotely operated for extended periods of time without the need for operator control or re-tuning the strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth B. Caulkins, Jeffrey M. Caulkins