Patents Examined by Robert W. Horn
  • Musical instrument stand support apparatus with rotatable adjustment mechanism to display a guitar
    Patent number: 11264001
    Abstract: A musical instrument stand support apparatus with enhanced stability and a rotatable adjustment mechanism designed to display a guitar in one of a plurality of viewing positions is provided. The stand support apparatus includes a support base, a securement frame rotatably mounted to the support base and having a plurality of bars and a support plate, an upper cradle coupled to the securement frame, and a pair of arms pivotably mounted to the securement frame. The stand support apparatus is designed to secure the guitar with its body disposed on the support plate, guitar neck disposed within the upper cradle and pair of sides of the guitar body secured within the pair of arms. The securement frame is rotatably adjusted relative to the support base to display the secured guitar in one of the plurality of viewing positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventor: Elie Maalouf
  • String instrument with superior tonal qualities
    Patent number: 11257470
    Abstract: A string instrument is disclosed having a body with an air cavity defined by a top plate, a bottom plate, and one or more ribs, a bass bar being secured to an inside surface of the top plate, the bass bar comprising a layup of a plurality of laminates constructed from western red cedar and comprising particular dimensions and placement on the top plate relative to the length of the instrument body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Alvin Fry
  • Motor
    Patent number: 11258334
    Abstract: A motor includes a motor body, a housing, a heat sink, a controller, a connector, and a cover. The heat sink includes two arm portions each extending radially outward. The connector is held between the two arm portions. The heat sink and the connector include a cover joint portion extending all the way around surfaces of the heat sink and the connector along a circumferential direction, is loop-shaped, and surrounds the controller, when viewed in an axial direction. The cover is joined to the cover joint portion. The connector includes a connector outside surface exposed between the two arm portions, and including circumferential end portions adjacent to the arm portions and overlapping with an imaginary line joining distal ends of the two arm portions or located radially inward of the imaginary line when viewed in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Hattori, Yuichi Nishikawa, Yuki Hamada, Yu Kuwamoto
  • Stator and electric motor
    Patent number: 11251664
    Abstract: A stator includes: a first wiring section connecting a coil wire end of a leading coil to a power line; and a second wiring section connecting a coil wire end of a last coil to a neutral point located on the power line side, by wiring that extends along a fewer-turns portion of the leading coil that has a smaller number of turns of wire than the last coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Senoo
  • Stator
    Patent number: 11245304
    Abstract: In a stator, a coil is wound around a stator core. A guide member is provided on one side of the stator core in the axial direction and guides the terminal line of the coil in the circumferential direction at a position overlapping the coil in the axial direction. The terminal line of a first coil includes a first axial extension part led out to one side in the axial direction. The terminal line of a second coil adjacent to the first coil on one side in the circumferential direction includes a second axial extension part led out to one side in the axial direction. A first position, which is a base end of the first axial extension part, and a second position, which is a base end of the second axial extension part, are set to the positions where are different in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Hotta
  • Electric machine
    Patent number: 11245300
    Abstract: An electric machine includes an annular stator and a rotor disposed within the stator. The stator has a multiplicity of stator segments in a circumferential direction. Each of the stator segments has one or more inner grooves, disposed in the region of the inner circumference of the stator segment, and a winding window which is disposed in the region of the outer circumference of the stator segment. A stator winding is wound in toroidal fashion around the stator segment. The winding window is partially surrounded at its radial outer side by stator segment outer arms in such a way that a radially directed outer gap extending from the winding window to the outer circumference of the stator segment is formed between the stator segment outer arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Stauder, Bernhardt Lueddecke, Lars Vornweg, Nam Anh Dinh, Dominik Just
  • Transducer for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy
    Patent number: 11239719
    Abstract: A motor that includes a plurality of stator members and a busbar member. A coil may be wound around each of the plurality of stator members, and the plurality of stator members may be arranged in an annular shape when viewed in an axial direction of the motor. The busbar member may connect to the coil ends of the plurality of stator members. The busbar member may comprise an annular shaped base portion, and a connection terminal connected to the base portion and connected to the coil end portions. The connection terminal may be provided with two recesses. The coil end portion of a first stator member and the coil end portion of a second stator member may be inserted through the two recesses respectively, where the first stator member and the second stator member are adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Natsumeda, Hisato Amano, Takashi Sakurada, Eiji Sakaguchi
  • Brass instrument
    Patent number: 11238838
    Abstract: A brass instrument includes a mouthpiece configured to convert vibrations of player's lips into sound and take the sound inside; a bell configured to magnify a volume of the sound taken by the mouthpiece and release the sound to the outside; and a main tube intervening between the mouthpiece and the bell, and is characterized in that the main tube includes a main tube body formed to spread out in a spiral manner in a state in which side surfaces of the main tube body are closely attached to each other, and a part of the closely attached side surfaces of one of the tubes constitutes a part of the side surface of the closely attached other tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: ANGEL HORN CORP.
    Inventors: Takamitsu Iwahashi, Hitoshi Numata
  • Plectrum having a regular grip and a thicker string contact portion
    Patent number: 11232771
    Abstract: A plectrum for striking a stringed instrument is planar so as to define a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The plectrum has a wide end a narrow end opposite the wide end. The plectrum includes: (a) a gripping portion disposed at the wide end, the gripping portion having a first thickness and a first flex; and (b) a thicker portion disposed at the narrow end, the thicker portion having a second thickness that is at least 10% greater than the first thickness and having a second flex that is less than the first flex, the plectrum defining a tip having a thickness greater than the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: David Dunwoodie
  • Bus-bar unit and motor
    Patent number: 11228220
    Abstract: A bus-bar unit includes bus-bars and a bus-bar holder supporting the bus-bars. Each bus-bar includes first and second bus-bar pieces. The first bus-bar piece includes a coil wire connection portion connected to a coil wire drawn from the stator and a first joint terminal joined to the second bus-bar piece. The second bus-bar piece includes an external connection terminal connected to an external apparatus and a second joint terminal joined to the first bus-bar piece. At least a portion of the first bus-bar pieces is embedded in the bus-bar holder. The first joint terminal includes a joint surface which faces and is joined to the second joint terminal and an opposite surface facing a side opposite to the joint surface. The joint surface and the opposite surface of the first joint terminal are exposed from the bus-bar holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Yoshikawa, Yusaku Yoshida, Hideo Fujiwara, Takashi Seguchi, Kosuke Ogawa
  • Method of music instruction
    Patent number: 11227503
    Abstract: A method of music instruction can comprise a system in which students receive a different colored wristband upon completing various intervals of training. Each wristband can provide a sense of accomplishment to the student and provide an incentive for the student to continue his/her training. Students can receive the first wristband upon completing three months of lessons, and a different wristband after completing each three-month interval thereafter until reaching eighteen months. After eighteen months, a different wristband can be awarded at each six-month interval until completing thirty-six months of lessons. Students can also receive certificates and trophies in tandem with the wristbands upon completing certain intervals of training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Music Academy Success, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas M. Fort, Jr.
  • Folding marimba
    Patent number: 11227569
    Abstract: A foldable idiophone musical instrument may have two frames to support accidental tone bars on the first frame and natural tone bars on the second frame. Connecting members may attach to opposite ends of the frames. The connecting members may allow the frames to rotate from 0° to 180° from a horizontal position to collapse or fold the instrument. The connecting members may have a riser portion and a stop block portion. The riser portion may elevate the accidental tone bars above the natural tone bars. The stop block portion may prevent the frames from rotating to less than 0° from the horizontal when in a performance position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Stator, motor and air blowing device
    Patent number: 11228218
    Abstract: A stator includes a stator core having a core back and a plurality of teeth, an insulator, and a coil formed by winding a conductive wire on an outer surface of the insulator to laminate a plurality of winding layers, wherein the insulator includes a cylindrical-shaped part with the conductive wire wound, a flange part provided at two ends of the cylindrical-shaped part and expanding in a lamination direction of the winding layers, and a contact part on the cylindrical-shaped part side of the flange part and contacting each of the winding layers in a winding direction; and the contact part includes a slope part inclined in the lamination direction of the winding layers with respect to a winding direction of the conductive wire and guiding the conductive wire from a winding end part of a certain winding layer to a winding start part of a subsequent winding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitsugu Sasaguri
  • Bus bar assembly and motor
    Patent number: 11228217
    Abstract: A bus bar assembly includes bus bars and a bus bar holder that is made of an insulating material and holds the bus bars in a non-contact state. The bus bars include base portions that overlap with other bus bars in the axial direction, and connecting portions extending from the base portions along the radial direction. At least two of the bus bars include stepped portions extending toward the other bus bars between proximal ends of the connecting portions and connection ends connected to windings. The bus bar holder molds the base portions and the stepped portions in a state where the connection ends are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusaku Yoshida, Takao Atarashi, Chiharu Kobayashi, Kentaro Sato
  • Securing device for piano strings
    Patent number: 11222616
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for tightening the strings of a keyboard musical instrument. The device provides for rigidly securing a tuning pin in position by means of a collet pressing into a cast-iron frame, an elastic ring being mounted on windings of a string. The present technical improvements increase tuning stability and tuning retention, increase string resistance to breaking, and increase the service life of a musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventor: Vladislav Vladimirovich Volkov
  • Automated endpin for upright stringed instruments
    Patent number: 11217212
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide and automatic endpin extension system to be used with an upright instrument, the system including a housing portion configured to be passed through a bottom aperture of an upright instrument, a coupling portion configured to be connected to the housing portion and to be coupled to the upright instrument proximate the bottom aperture, a telescoping endpin portion configured to be selectively moved up and down to extend out from, and withdraw into, the housing portion, a motor portion connected to the housing portion and configured to selectively drive the telescoping endpin portion up and down, and a controller portion configured to control the motor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventor: Charles W. Pollard
  • Accessory assembly for string instrument and string instrument
    Patent number: 11205406
    Abstract: Multiple accessory assemblies for a string instrument are disclosed. The accessory assembly is a set of an accessory, made of a material of Young's modulus greater than 12 GPa, and at least one sound purifier, made of a material of Young's modulus roughly equal to or less than 3.5 GPa. A string instrument that includes at least one accessory assembly is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventor: Chyh-Hong Chern
  • Guitar case
    Patent number: 11195500
    Abstract: Provided is a guitar case that can include a body for placement of a guitar; a translucent or transparent window where a portion of the guitar is visible from outside of the case; and a speaker; wherein the guitar placed inside of the case is configured to play over the speaker with a wired or wireless connection. The guitar case can further include a panel or a screen. The screen can be a touch-screen. The panel can be configured to move to allow access to electronics inside of the case. The panel can pivot out. The guitar case can further include a door, the door having the window. The guitar case can further include a camera or a microphone. The case can be configured so that a guitar is placed at an angle of less than vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Moser-Lucido-Production, LLC
    Inventor: Don Louis Moser
  • Motor and electric power steering apparatus
    Patent number: 11196316
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor, a stator surrounding an outer side of the rotor in a radial direction and including a coil, and a bus bar of a wire electrically connected to the coil and having conductivity, wherein the stator is provided with a hole extending in an axial direction, the bus bar includes stretched portions extending in the axial direction, and each of the stretched portions is disposed in the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Takahashi, Hiroshi Tange, Yoshiaki Yamashita, Takashi Seguchi
  • Keyboard instrument and manufacturing method therefor
    Patent number: 11195499
    Abstract: A keyboard instrument includes an upper case having an upper side installation part; a lower case having a lower side installation part at a position corresponding to the upper side installation part of the upper case; a keyboard unit including a key-connecting part to which a plurality of keys are connected, the key-connecting part having an insertion hole to which at least one of the upper side installation part and the lower side installation part is inserted; and a fastening member fastening the upper side installation part and the lower side installation part together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Taniguchi, Atsushi Oshiro, Daisuke Noto