Patents Examined by Kimberly R. Lockett
  • Patent number: 11646003
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drum mechanism comprising in one example: a first end configured to be attached to a foot pedal axle shaft; a second end configured to be attached to a foot pedal stationary frame; the foot pedal stationary frame configured to be positioned adjacent a drumhead such that rotation of a drum beater attached to the foot pedal will impact the drumhead when swung about a pivot of the foot pedal; the drum compression spring mechanism configured to bias the drum beater away from the drumhead; a shaft extending from the pedal axle shaft to a piston adjustably connected to the shaft; and a resilient member positioned between the piston and the spring housing when the foot pedal is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Ronn Dunnett
  • Patent number: 11640813
    Abstract: A string bender mechanism for a string musical instrument having a bender assembly comprising a control member and at least two bender levers. The control member moving between a first position and at least a second position, being a rest and active position, respectively. The at least two bender levers have a first end and a second end. The first end of said bender lever is dimensioned or adjacent to the control member and the second end of the bender lever receives a string. When the control member is in the first position, the bender levers are at rest and a tone emanates from a plucked string. When the control member is in the second position, the bender levers move simultaneously, and a varied tone emanates from a plucked string. In an alternative embodiment, one or more bender levers may be replaced with a switcher assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Inventors: James Wade Black, Barry Alan Bateman
  • Patent number: 11640814
    Abstract: A suspension system for a drum includes upper and lower suspension structures defining a pair of mounting holes including an upper and a lower mounting hole. A vibration isolation member is received in each mounting hole of the pair. When the suspension system is mounted to the drum via the pair of mounting holes and an associated vibration isolation members receives an associated tensioning rod at a support location, one of the vibration isolation members engages a downwardly facing surface of the upper drum hoop and the other vibration isolation member engages a downwardly facing surface of a lower lug to support weight of the drum upwardly. The suspension system prevents a moment force on the drum when the drum is oriented in a horizontal or angled position due to the support locations being oriented to be balanced with respect to a center of gravity of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: PEARL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CO.
    Inventor: Yuji Fukai
  • Patent number: 11636834
    Abstract: An apparatus for hands-free turning of sheets in a booklet. A paper clip is attached to sheet(s) in the booklet. The apparatus comprises a swing arm with a magnet for magnetically attaching to the paper clip on the sheet(s). The swing arm sweeps from right-to-left with the sheet attached thereto, thereby turning the sheet over to the back page. This can be operated by a hands-free actuator, such as a foot pedal. The swing arm then makes a return stroke to turn the next sheet. Also disclosed are methods for turning pages in a hands-free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Crist Lu
  • Patent number: 11636832
    Abstract: A modular and customizable construction for a guitar is disclosed. The construction may include a substantially flat metal guitar base plate that couples to interchangeable guitar components, such as a guitar body, a fretboard, and guitar string tuners. Further provided is a moveable nut that is used to adjust guitar string scale length via nut blocks that are separately adjustable relative to one another. Even further provided is a computer program product that allows for development of custom fingerboards that cater to a specific player's requirements and are optimized for alternative tunings and temperaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Talent on Tap, LLC
    Inventor: Sudipta Singh
  • Patent number: 11636833
    Abstract: A compact drum kit is provided. The drum kit has a body having a hollow interior cavity and a sound hole for transmitting sound wave from the interior cavity to exterior of the body, the body has a striking head and an opposing resonant head. The drum kit has a top plate attaching to a top side of the body and a platform attaching to a bottom side of the body. A plurality of upward extending component mounting shafts are supported by shaft locking mechanisms. A drum kick assembly is positioned on the striking head side of the body and including a beater positioned to strike the striking head of the body to produce a sound. A hi-hat pedal assembly is positioned on the resonant head side of the body. The hi-hat pedal assembly can be attached to a hi-hat pedal assembly plate at a variety of distances and angles. The hi-hat pedal assembly plate can be pivotally connected to the bottom platform that the hi-hat pedal plate forms a portion of the body when the hi-hat pedal assembly plate is folded up for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: David Wish
  • Patent number: 11631384
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a piano-action. The piano-action may comprises a first moving component including a concavity structure, a second moving component including a convexity structure, wherein the convexity structure and the concavity structure are configured to match each other and capable of being clipped together, and a third moving component being thin and flexible and configured to fixedly fit between the first moving component and the second moving component when the convexity structure of the second moving component is clipped into the concavity structure of the first moving component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SUNLAND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaolu Liu, Kaiwen Li, Yangyi Teng
  • Patent number: 11626090
    Abstract: An adaptive equipment for playing chords on a musical instrument is provided. The apparatus can have a shell having an interior cavity. The adaptive equipment has a root pin partially installed within a root housing channel of a root housing, the root housing is fixedly installed within an interior cavity of the shell and is positioned toward the left side of the shell. The adaptive equipment has a fifth pin partially installed within a fifth housing channel of a fifth housing, the fifth housing is fixedly installed within the interior cavity of the shell and is positioned toward the right side of the shell. The adaptive equipment has a third pin partially installed within a third housing channel of a third housing, the third housing is movably installed within the interior cavity of the shell and is positioned between the root housing and the fifth housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: David Wish
  • Patent number: 11620971
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a practice pad for practising the use of a snare drum. The practice pad includes: an upper drum surface; and a sound generating device arranged below the drum surface. The sound generating device includes: a chamber having a first surface and an opposing second surface; and a plurality of elongate rods retained inside the chamber, between the first and second surfaces, so that the plurality of elongate rods vibrate against the first and second surfaces in response to a strike of the drum surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Simon Humphreys
  • Patent number: 11600247
    Abstract: The retainer for securing a musical instrument string to a body of a musical instrument includes a first casing portion defining a first opening and a ball-end chamber therein. The first opening is located at a proximal end of the retainer and a second casing portion is located at a distal end of the first casing portion. The second casing portion defines a passageway from the ball-end chamber to a second opening located at a distal end of the retainer. The passageway length is greater than the ball-end chamber length, and the ball-end chamber width is greater the passageway width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Robert J. Lesko
  • Patent number: 11600249
    Abstract: A saxophone cleaning tool is revealed. The saxophone cleaning tool includes a cleaner provided with a cleaning surface for cleaning an inner surface of a tube, a first pull body having one end connected with a first connection portion of the cleaner and the other end placed into the tube through a tube opening and descending into a curved portion, and a second pull body having one end connected with a second connection portion of the cleaner and the other end placed into the tube through a bell opening and descending into the curved portion. A free end of both the first and second pull bodies is provided with an assembly portion and a magnetic member. Thereby the cleaning tool is passed through the tube easily with the two free ends connected to form a loop which is pulled continuously for fast and cyclic cleaning of the saxophone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: CHYAU-KE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Chi-Yi Ko
  • Patent number: 11587536
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus used to connect a typical guitar strap in non-traditional positions on the body of a guitar or bass guitar, which affixes to the instrument to provide stability and balance. The core components of the apparatus are a resilient hollow plastic outer shell with an external protrusion extending from the apex, a protective non-slip thermoplastic rubber inner layer, and metal hardware, suitable for use with virtually all guitar straps presently in use, attached to the external protrusion. The invention can be used to attach a strap to a guitar or bass guitar securely, without damaging the finish or affecting the tonal integrity of the instrument. Furthermore, it should be noted that the apparatus is generally a parabolic shape, intended to securely fit over the upper or lower horn of a guitar or bass guitar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Roland Conrad, Erika Katherine Conrad
  • Patent number: 11587539
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wind instrument apparatus, comprising: an attachment element configured to attach the apparatus to a wind instrument, a spring structure attached to or comprised by the attachment element, and a support bar. The support bar is partially insertable into the elastic structure and the apparatus comprises a fastening mechanism configured to selectively fasten the support bar in relation to the elastic structure, so that the flexibility of the attachment element is adjustable in relation to the support bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ergobrass Oy
    Inventor: Jouko Antere
  • Patent number: 11580940
    Abstract: An instrument holder includes an elongated crossbar including a back surface and a front surface and extending between a first end and a second end, the first end having a perpendicular portion, and the second end including an angled portion and an offset portion, a slot bar coupleable to the first end of the elongated crossbar at the perpendicular portion, and a cradle coupleable to the second end of the elongated crossbar at the offset portion, the cradle being configured and arranged to couple to the back surface of the offset portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Paul S. Ugactz
  • Patent number: 11574616
    Abstract: Some implementations can include a string bender including a body configured to attach to a bridge of a guitar or other stringed instrument. Some implementations can include a bridge with an integrated string bender. The string bender can be constructed to bend one or more strings, for example the B and/or G strings. The string bender can also be constructed to fit a variety of guitar styles, such as Fender Telecaster or Stratocaster-style guitars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventor: Waylon Dale Baker
  • Patent number: 11568838
    Abstract: A stringed instrument bridge comprising: a bridge body; a receiving surface that is generally flat and horizontal; a first angled member abutting a first side of the receiving surface, the first angled member having a first angled surface with a first threaded hole; a second angled member abutting a second side of the receiving surface, the second side on an opposite side from the first side, the second angled member having a second angled surface with a second threaded hole; a step block attachable to the receiving surface; the step block comprising a plurality of steps; a plurality of saddles, each saddle configured to sit on one of the steps; a first wedge lock, the first wedge lock having a first slotted screw hole, the first wedge lock configured to attach to the bridge body at the first angled member via a first screw configured to engage the first slotted screw hole and the first threaded hole; a second wedge lock, the second wedge lock having a second slotted screw hole, the second wedge lock configur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventor: Evan Haynes
  • Patent number: 11568839
    Abstract: A performance support device includes a first surface, a second surface, and a flow path. The first surface is configured to face a blow hole of an air reed instrument. The second surface is configured to be displaced from the blow hole. The flow path penetrates from the first surface to the second surface and that is configured to flow an exhaled breath toward the blow hole. A cross-sectional area of the flow path at the first surface is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the flow path at a position displaced from the first surface toward the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Keita Arimoto, Masafumi Fuke, Kazuhiro Fujita, Akira Miki
  • Patent number: 11562719
    Abstract: A bow hair material for a bow hair of a bow of a bowed string instrument. The bow hair material includes threads constructed from poly phenylene sulfide resin. The bow material may be formed into a hair bundle that includes a plurality of threads that are substantially parallel with each other. A mounting portion may be formed by welding an end portion of the hair bundle that mounts the hair bundle on a frog or stick of the bow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaya
  • Patent number: 11551650
    Abstract: Disclosed are a support device for a string instrument and a string instrument having the same, the support device being easily stored without an unnecessary separate attachment/detachment process. The support device for a string instrument includes: fixing plates fixed to a body of a string instrument; a first rotary plate rotatably connected to the fixing plates; and a second rotary plate rotatably coupled to the first rotary plate, wherein the first rotary plate has a shape corresponding to one part of a side plate of the body, and the second rotary plate has a shape corresponding to another part of the side plate of the body which is different from one part of the side plate of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Jae Seok Jung
  • Patent number: 11551648
    Abstract: A saxophone has a body tube, a high-F #structure, and a side-Bb structure. The body tube has a high-F #tone hole and a side-Bb hole. The high-F #structure opens or closes the high-F #tone hole. The side-Bb structure has a side-Bb tone-hole cover, a side-Bb driving assembly, an auxiliary key, and a main key. The main key is separated from the auxiliary key. The auxiliary key is disposed above a high F #key of the high-F #structure along a vertical line. The auxiliary key and the main key are separately arranged around a centerline of the body tube. The auxiliary key and the main key correspond in height position. Both of the auxiliary key and the main key are connected to the side-Bb driving assembly and drive the side-Bb tone-hole cover to close or open the side-Bb tone hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Reliance International Corp.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chieh Yang, Ching-Shyan Yen, Wei-Ting Chen