Patents by Inventor Billy Frank MARTIN

Billy Frank MARTIN has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9704457
    Abstract: A reverse-pull and double-down pressure bridge configuration for a stringed instrument is used to integrate a set of retrofit strings into the instrument. The retrofit strings are tethered between the bridge plate of the instrument and the back end of the instrument so that the retrofit strings are able to apply a reverse pull on a soundboard of the instrument and compress the saddle, the bridge, and the soundboard of the instrument. The retrofit strings are configured to counteract the forward pull applied on the soundboard by the original strings of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Billy Frank Martin
  • Publication number: 20160163294
    Abstract: A reverse-pull and double-down pressure bridge configuration for a stringed instrument is used to integrate a set of retrofit strings into the instrument. The retrofit strings are tethered between the bridge plate of the instrument and the back end of the instrument so that the retrofit strings are able to apply a reverse pull on a soundboard of the instrument and compress the saddle, the bridge, and the soundboard of the instrument. The retrofit strings are configured to counteract the forward pull applied on the soundboard by the original strings of the instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Billy Frank Martin
  • Patent number: 9006547
    Abstract: The present invention is a bridge truss that alleviates tensile and compressive stresses applied to an acoustic stringed instruments soundboard from the bridge. These tensile and compressive stresses are transferred through the bridge truss to chamber of the acoustic stringed instrument instead. The bridge truss allows the support brace of the acoustic stringed instrument to be reduced or eliminated. The bridge truss provides the soundboard with the ability to produce longer sustained vibrations, and vibrations of greater amplitude—increasing performance and tone. Also, the relative height of the soundboard can be altered for greater playability, at a user's discretion. A user only needs to reposition threaded adjustment rods from atop the bridge of the acoustic stringed instrument in order to transfer more or less stress to the bridge truss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Billy Frank Martin
  • Patent number: 8895824
    Abstract: A reverse bridge tension configuration for a stringed instrument allows the stringed instrument to offset some of the tension felt by the bridge. For a typical stringed instrument such as a guitar, the tensioned strings are bound between the bridge and the headstock. However, the reverse bridge tension configuration loops the tensioned strings on a path that goes around the back of the instrument, through the body of the instrument, and back to the bridge. A reverse bridge is positioned on the corner of the soundboard and the back end so that the tensioned strings can loop around the back end without causing pressure damage to the outer surface of the instrument. Once the tensioned strings travel around the reverse bridge and into the body, channels are positioned within the body in order to guide the tensioned strings back to the bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Billy Frank Martin
  • Publication number: 20140083275
    Abstract: A reverse bridge tension configuration for a stringed instrument allows the stringed instrument to offset some of the tension felt by the bridge. For a typical stringed instrument such as a guitar, the tensioned strings are bound between the bridge and the headstock. However, the reverse bridge tension configuration loops the tensioned strings on a path that goes around the back of the instrument, through the body of the instrument, and back to the bridge. A reverse bridge is positioned on the corner of the soundboard and the back end so that the tensioned strings can loop around the back end without causing pressure damage to the outer surface of the instrument. Once the tensioned strings travel around the reverse bridge and into the body, channels are positioned within the body in order to guide the tensioned strings back to the bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Billy Frank Martin
  • Publication number: 20130174710
    Abstract: The present invention is a bridge truss that alleviates tensile and compressive stresses applied to an acoustic stringed instruments soundboard from the bridge. These tensile and compressive stresses are transferred through the bridge truss to chamber of the acoustic stringed instrument instead. The bridge truss allows the support brace of the acoustic stringed instrument to be reduced or eliminated. The bridge truss provides the soundboard with the ability to produce longer sustained vibrations, and vibrations of greater amplitude—increasing performance and tone. Also, the relative height of the soundboard can be altered for greater playability, at a user's discretion. A user only needs to reposition threaded adjustment rods from atop the bridge of the acoustic stringed instrument in order to transfer more or less stress to the bridge truss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventor: Billy Frank MARTIN