Patents Examined by Kimberly Lockett
  • Patent number: 10176790
    Abstract: A guitar support for supporting a guitar during a performance includes a base, a stand having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a curved middle portion. A lower end of the lower portion is connected to the base. A shaped support element is connected to a top end of the upper portion, the shaped support element having a top surface shaped to support a guitar body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Jonathan J. Gangi
  • Patent number: 10157601
    Abstract: A strap button and connector for connecting one end of a strap to a musical instrument or other body consists of a connector fixed to the instrument and a removable strap button to hold a strap securely. The connector has a large opening or mouth and is designed so that the strap button and the connector be easily engaged or disengaged. When the threaded neck of strap button is received into threaded connector cavity the strap button is easily hand screwed together and the additional aid of a rubber washer placed between strap button neck and connector head or lip keeps the two parts from disengaging. The strap at this point is secure from coming off the strap button and the strap still has movability between player and instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Inventor: Brett Runge
  • Patent number: 10157597
    Abstract: The tremolo locking device is a device applicable to tremolo bridge equipped stringed instruments such as electric guitars. One embodiment of the device provides the means for the instrument player to lock the tremolo at a repeatable position, preventing movement bi-directionally, or to stop the tremolo limiting movement in one direction. It also allows the player to unlock the tremolo bridge completely for its unencumbered full range of use. This is accomplished with a retractable stop assembly providing a repeatable stop location and a screw assembly which holds the tremolo block against the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Inventor: Gunnar K. Green
  • Patent number: 10152954
    Abstract: A musical string, in particular a string instrument musical string, has a substantially circularly-cylindrical outer contour and includes an inner part having an inner part cross section delimited by an inner part boundary line. The inner part includes at least one supporting string core. At least in a specifiable length section of the musical string, the inner part boundary line has at least one curved, convex boundary line section. The inner part cross section of the inner part has a width which is greater than a height of the inner part cross section in perpendicular relation to the width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Thomastik-Infeld Gesellschaft m.b.H
    Inventor: Franz Klanner
  • Patent number: 10152956
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for reducing a volume of sound that travels away from a volume of space that is proximate to an instrument, while limiting an amount of physical contact with the instrument and limiting change to characteristics of the sound being produced by the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph McIntyre
  • Patent number: 10147404
    Abstract: A curvature adaption mechanism to be incorporated with a capo (10) for use with a guitar includes a cam surface (16, 17, 19) and associated cam follower surface (12) located behind a string contact surface (11). A curvature of the guitar fingerboard and strings can be adopted by the string contact surface (11) by virtue of cams engaging and providing a feedback force (D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: C7th Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas John Campling
  • Patent number: 10147406
    Abstract: A strap attachable to a musical instrument for enabling a musician to wear the musical instrument and for carrying at least one instrument playing accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: Yevgeniy Blekherman, Dimitri Vishnepolsky
  • Patent number: 10147402
    Abstract: The invention relates to an instrument provided with an assembled soundboard. The nerve structures of the soundboard components are linked to the bass and middle registers on the one hand and the descant on the other hand and are positioned in a different angle with respect to the keyboard. The different positioning of the nerve structures contributes to an improved sound quality, a balanced volume and a warmer timbre. Moreover, such assembled soundboard offers a better resistance to changing weather conditions (i.e. cold and humidity).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Piano's Maene NV
    Inventor: Chris Maene
  • Patent number: 10147403
    Abstract: A pedal system for an organ pedal includes a holster having a body forming a U-shaped configuration, the body having a top surface; an inner surface; and two opposing sidewalls configured to removably engage with the organ pedal and configured to form a snug fit between the inner surface and an outer surface of the organ pedal; and an electronic pedal configured to engage with the holster and conductively coupled to an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: William Perry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10140963
    Abstract: A musical string, in particular for a string instrument, includes at least one load-bearing string core, said string core having plastic threads, said plastic threads including a first group of first plastic threads and a second group of second plastic threads, wherein the first plastic threads differ from the second plastic threads with respect to a predeterminable physical property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: THOMASTIK-INFELD GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.
    Inventor: Franz Klanner
  • Patent number: 10127895
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a Contoured Banjo Bridge with a flat upper surface for making contact with and securing the strings present on a stringed instrument and one or more convex overall lower surfaces which makes contact with the head of said stringed instrument, to maintain a uniform pressure with the banjo head surface when the strings are tightened, whereby the convex lower portion of the banjo bridge has a curved lower surface to compensate for the stress applied onto the head of the stringed instrument when the strings are tightened. The Contoured Banjo Bridge may be constructed with one or more openings to achieve the intended purpose of this application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Deering Banjo Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Greg Deering, Jens H. Kruger
  • Patent number: 10127898
    Abstract: Accumulated saliva, other liquid and/or debris is removed from the interior of a harmonica by placing the harmonica in a carrier and twirling the carrier in an orbital path. The saliva, other liquid and/or debris is ejected from the holes or the harmonica by centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Inventor: Michael J Baron, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10109262
    Abstract: A method for assembling a double reed mouthpiece for use within an oboe utilizes heat shrink tubing to affix a folded cane to the staple of the mouthpiece. The staple is mounted on a ligating stand having a heatshield that protects a cork sleeve around the staple. Heat shrink tubing and a folded cane are then placed over the exposed proximal end of the staple. A clamp holds the folded cane in place. Heated air is used to ligate and affix the folded cane to the staple. The heatshield prevents damage to the cork sleeve. The heat shrink tubing securely affixes the folded cane to the staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventor: Leonard Sheiner
  • Patent number: 10102831
    Abstract: The present invention includes a retractable stringed musical instrument; specifically a stringed musical instrument having a tailpiece, a body coupled to the tailpiece, a neck coupled to the body and a fingerboard coupled to the neck. The fingerboard and the neck extends and retracts relative to the body. The retractable stringed instrument further comprises a mechanism to maintain tension on the strings of the instrument regardless if the neck is in the extended or retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventor: Peter G. Schulte
  • Patent number: 10096305
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of notating music comprising the steps of providing a plurality of icons, wherein each icon comprises at least two characteristics selected from the group consisting of a shape, a symbol, and a color, and assigning each icon to a note of a plurality of notes of the chromatic scale. The plurality of notes includes notes that may be arranged into a plurality of chords. At least one characteristic of the icons of each of the notes of each chord is the same. The method further comprises the step of providing a musical notation comprising the plurality of icons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph D. Brenna
  • Patent number: 10089969
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an upright floor stand for guitar, comprising: a support-bar-assembly, a guitar-protecting fork, a fork and a support base, the guitar-protecting fork comprises a guitar-protecting fork body and a plastic back seat rotatably connecting to the guitar-protecting fork body; and mounted on the support-bar-assembly; the support base comprises a load bearing base and three support legs, all the three support legs are hinged to the load bearing base, the support-bar-assembly is mounted on the load bearing base, the fork is engaged with the load bearing base. Through arranging the foldable guitar-protecting fork, the fork and the three support legs, the present invention makes the whole support for guitar a smaller volume after folded, and an easier and more convenient fold, while placing the guitar onto the support, it is more secure and stable, thus it is user-friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: AROMA MUSIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haihua Chen
  • Patent number: 10089970
    Abstract: An ergonomic harness system for hands-free support of violins and violas that incorporates two partly overlapping concave/convex shaped plates with attached rib tabs on each end that secure the plates to the instrument in a cross-pattern at the C-bouts and bottom edge of the instrument body. Mechanisms for expanding and contracting the plates allows the harness to accommodate instrument size variations and provides an adjustable binding force. A telescoping chest pad is secured to one end of the concave plate for supporting the instrument using the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Silverman Musical Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Tracy Silverman
  • Patent number: 10083622
    Abstract: A music charting and notation system that is a hybrid system and method that uses some standard notation elements, while combining and implementing them in non-standard ways, as well as adding other elements that are not found in any current notation systems. This new system of music notation and charting combines enhanced functionality and greater readability for musicians who are not full-time professionals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher M. Keeney
  • Patent number: 10083677
    Abstract: A sound post, particularly for string instrument, having a variable length is described. The sound post consists of a first tubular component having a first end and a second end and a second tubular component having a first end and a second end, wherein the second tubular component is at least partially arranged in the first tubular component in a movable manner, and wherein a first pivotable end piece is arranged at the first end of the first tubular component. The sound post also comprises a counter-element and a tension fastener element which is rotatably arranged and suitable to be countered against the counter-element by rotation. A pivotable end piece is also arranged at the second end of the second tubular component. A sound post tool set for mounting the sound post in an instrument and a method for mounting the sound post in an instrument are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Wolfgang Hamberger
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hamberger
  • Patent number: 10079007
    Abstract: A woodwind mouthpiece has a tone chamber with a bottom surface and a window. A table extends along an outer surface of the mouthpiece, and a pair of side rails extends from the table along opposite sides of the window. A removable tone chamber insert is disposed in the tone chamber in contact with the bottom surface and the interior surface of each side rail. The tone chamber insert modifies at least one of a tone chamber width defined by a distance between the interior surfaces of the side rails and a bottom surface width defined by a distance between the interior surfaces of the side rails at the bottom surface. In addition, a v-shaped notch extends into the table from the side rail top surfaces at least about 50% of the length of the table. the v-shaped notch defines an angle of at least about 15 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: ROVNER PRODUCTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Philip Lee Rovner