Abstract: A charging apparatus supplies power from a source to an electronic device with proper electrical polarity. The apparatus includes a base having a first magnetic member coupled to the source and corresponding to negative power and a second magnetic member coupled to the source and corresponding to positive power, and a charging case having a pair of metallic members coupled to an input of a bridge rectifier, a plug coupled to an output of the bridge rectifier by a first wire corresponding to negative power and a second wire corresponding to positive power. The plug connects to the electronic device and the charging case is maneuvered to engage the first metallic member with one of the magnetic members on the base and engage the second metallic member with the other magnetic member on the base. This connection supplies power from the source to the electronic device with proper electrical polarity.

Abstract: A stringed instrument with an interchangeable magnetic pickup system to enable any number of a plurality of pickups to attach to the instrument in variable positions is provided. The stringed instrument includes a base with a central opening, a plurality of strings coupled to the base and extending over the central opening, a main magnetic mounting plate coupled to the base within the central opening and electrically coupled to a phono plug output of the base, a plurality of secondary magnetic mounting plates coupled to the base within the central opening and electrically coupled to the phono plug output of the base, and a plurality of pickup assemblies coupled to the base. Each pickup assembly has a first magnetic member electrically coupled to one of the secondary magnetic mounting plates and a second magnetic member electrically coupled to the main magnetic mounting plate.

Abstract: A flexible magnetic fastening apparatus with enhanced strength and reduced noise during use is provided. The magnetic fastening apparatus includes an upper fastener detachably coupled to a lower fastener. Each fastener in the upper and lower fasteners has a fabric layer that encapsulates a magnetic member. The magnetic member in each fastener has a positive magnetic pole at the bottom surface of the fabric layer and a negative magnetic pole at the top surface of the fabric layer. The negative magnetic pole of the magnetic member in the lower fastener attracts the positive magnetic pole of the magnetic member in the upper fastener, thereby coupling the bottom surface of the upper fastener to the top surface of the lower fastener.

Abstract: A music pedalboard having a built-in patch cord and designed for use with a plurality of effects pedals is provided. The pedalboard includes a board designed to receive a first set of effects pedals arranged along a first row on the board and a second set of effects pedals arranged along a second row on the board, and a patch cord coupled to the bottom face of the board and having a first end coupled to a first side face of the board and a second end coupled to a second opposing side face of the board. The first end of the patch cord operably connects to an output of a last effects pedal in the first set of effects pedals and the second end of the patch cord operably connects to an input of a first effects pedal in the second set of effects pedals.

Abstract: A connector apparatus with a power isolation capability that is designed to transmit electricity from a power source to an electrical device is provided. The connector apparatus includes a housing with an input connector designed to electrically couple to the power source and an output connector designed to electrically couple to the electrical device, and a power isolation chip disposed in the housing and having an input electrically coupled to the input connector of the housing and an output electrically coupled to the output connector of the housing. The power isolation chip is designed to isolate its negative and positive output terminals from its negative and positive input terminals, thereby minimizing the generation of interference in the connector apparatus that transfers to the electrical device.

Abstract: A magnetic connector that transmits a plurality of signals from an input supply to a device is provided. The magnetic connector includes a first connector body coupled to the input supply and a second connector body coupled to the device, a first set of magnets disposed in the first connector body, and a second set of magnets disposed in the second connector body. The first and second connector bodies connect together with the exposed positive or negative magnetic pole of each magnet in the first set of magnets engaged with the exposed pole of one of the magnets in the second set of magnets having an opposite magnetic pole. Each engaged pair of one magnet in the first set of magnets and one magnet in the second set of magnets transmits one of the plurality of signals from the input supply to the device.

Abstract: A cordless magnetic board apparatus for use to transmit power and sound signals between musical effects pedals is provided. The apparatus is connected to a power supply and an input sound source. Each effects pedal includes an input sound connector, an output sound connector and an input power connector. The board apparatus includes a base having a plurality of sets of magnetic members where each set of the magnetic members corresponds to one of the plurality of effects pedals, each set of magnetic members having a first magnetic member corresponding to negative power, a second magnetic member corresponding to positive power, a third magnetic member corresponding to input sound and a fourth magnetic member corresponding to output sound. Musical effects pedals are coupled to the plurality of sets of magnetic members to transmit power and sound between the pedals.

Abstract: A solenoid triggered electrical musical stringed-instrument is provided. The instrument includes a body with a bridge, a neck coupled to the body and having a plurality of frets, a plurality of strings extending over the plurality of frets and coupled to the neck and bridge, a plurality of solenoids coupled to the bridge of the body, each solenoid corresponding to one of the plurality of strings and designed to deploy and retract, and an open switch array coupled to the neck of the instrument and having a plurality of momentary switches electrically coupled to the plurality of solenoids, each momentary switch corresponding to one of the plurality of solenoids associated with one of the plurality of strings of the instrument. Any string or momentary switch is depressed to deploy the plunger of one of the solenoids to hammer one of the plurality of strings.

Abstract: A magnetic pedalboard system to supply power to effects pedals for use with a musical instrument is provided. The magnetic pedalboard system includes a base member, a pair of conductive strips coupled to the top surface of the base member and electrically coupled to a power supply, and at least one pedal coupled to the pair of conductive strips, the at least one pedal having a first portion of magnetic electrical contacts electrically coupled to a second portion of magnetic electrical contacts. The at least one pedal is designed to slide along any portion of the conductive strips with the first portion of magnetic electrical contacts directly coupled to the first conductive strip and the second portion of magnetic electrical contacts directly coupled to the second conductive strip, thereby permitting the power supply to transmit electricity through the conductive strips to the at least one pedal.

Abstract: An electric stringed instrument for enhancing the musical or artistic performance of a user is provided. The instrument includes a body with a cutout such that a center portion of the body is open, a neck affixed to an outer edge of the body, and a plurality of strings having first ends operably connected to the neck and second ends operably connected to the body, the plurality of strings being oriented such that the strings extend over the cutout of the body. The user may maneuver the instrument and strum the plurality of strings on any portion of the strings located within the cutout of the body, thereby enhancing the sound of the instrument and the performance of the user.

Abstract: An electric stringed instrument for enhancing the musical or artistic performance of a user is provided. The instrument includes a body with a cutout such that a center portion of the body is open, a neck affixed to an outer edge of the body, and a plurality of strings having first ends operably connected to the neck and second ends operably connected to the body, the plurality of strings being oriented such that the strings extend over the cutout of the body. The user may maneuver the instrument and strum the plurality of strings on any portion of the strings located within the cutout of the body, thereby enhancing the sound of the instrument and the performance of the user.