Patents by Inventor Gordon Van Ekstrom
Gordon Van Ekstrom 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).
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Patent number: 9299324Abstract: A bridge assembly having a saddle plate with a first aperture, and a tremolo block with a second aperture aligned with the first aperture. The tremolo block is attached to the saddle plate, and it has a plurality of arcuate string apertures therethrough configured to receive the strings therein while maintaining contact between the string and the tremolo block along substantially the entire length of the respective string aperture.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Inventor: Gordon van Ekstrom
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Patent number: 9225095Abstract: A ball plunger-style lateral connector assembly for electrical connections. One embodiment has an electrically conductive connector body with an electrically conductive pin extending into the body's interior area. An electrically conductive connector plate adjacent to the body's closed end engages the pin. An insulator sleeve in the body's interior area is adjacent to the body's sidewall. An electrically conductive biasing member in the interior area engages the connector plate; the insulator sleeve is between the biasing member and the connector body. An electrically conductive ball track in the interior area is in engagement with the other end of the biasing member. An electrically conductive ball is disposed in the body's open end and is seated in the ball track. The ball rolls within ball track during use of the lateral connector.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Inventor: Gordon Van Ekstrom
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Publication number: 20150126077Abstract: A ball plunger-style lateral connector assembly for electrical connections. One embodiment has an electrically conductive connector body with an electrically conductive pin extending into the body's interior area. An electrically conductive connector plate adjacent to the body's closed end engages the pin. An insulator sleeve in the body's interior area is adjacent to the body's sidewall. An electrically conductive biasing member in the interior area engages the connector plate; the insulator sleeve is between the biasing member and the connector body. An electrically conductive ball track in the interior area is in engagement with the other end of the biasing member. An electrically conductive ball is disposed in the body's open end and is seated in the ball track. The ball rolls within ball track during use of the lateral connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2013Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventor: Gordon van Ekstrom
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Patent number: 8697969Abstract: A bridge assembly having a saddle plate, a tremolo block, and a bushing extending through the saddle plate and tremolo block. The bushing has an internal bore, and an engagement member extends through the bushing and is partially disposed in the internal bore. A tremolo arm has an engagement section with a flat engagement surface that defines a plane substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the engagement section. The engagement member is perpendicular to and laterally disposed from the internal bore's longitudinal axis. The engagement member frictionally engages the flat engagement surface when the engagement section is disposed in the internal bore. The tremolo arm's engagement section rotates with the busing as a unit relative to the tremolo block.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: GDK Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Gordon van Ekstrom
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Publication number: 20140020545Abstract: A bridge assembly having a saddle plate with a first aperture, and a tremolo block with a second aperture aligned with the first aperture. The tremolo block is attached to the saddle plate, and it has a plurality of arcuate string apertures therethrough configured to receive the strings therein while maintaining contact between the string and the tremolo block along substantially the entire length of the respective string aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Inventor: Gordon van Ekstrom
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Patent number: 8575466Abstract: A ball plunger-style lateral connector assembly for electrical connections, comprising an electrically conductive connector body with an electrically conductive pin positioned in an aperture in a closed end of the body. A first end portion of the pin member extends at least partially into the interior area of the connector body. An electrically conductive connector plate is adjacent to the closed end of the connector body and engages the first end portion of the pin member and provides an electrical connection therebetween. An insulator sleeve may be disposed in the interior area of the connector body and adjacent to the sidewall of the connector body. An electrically conductive biasing member is disposed in the interior area of the connector body. The biasing member has a first end portion in engagement with the connector plate, and wherein the insulator sleeve is disposed between the biasing member and the connector body.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2010Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Inventor: Gordon van Ekstrom
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Patent number: 8283552Abstract: A module for removable insertion into a stringed instrument body, the body having a transverse cavity extending from a lateral edge. A first fixation device is attached to the body in the cavity and having electrically conductive contact members. The module includes a base configured to engage the cavity as the module travels along an axis of movement into the cavity. The pickup module assembly having a base slidably inserted into the cavity along an axis from the lateral edge between removed and inserted positions. A plurality of pickups are carried by the base in operative proximity to the strings. A second fixation device is attached to the base and positioned to slideably engage the first fixation device when the base is in the inserted position. First and second electrical connectors are electrically coupled to the plurality of pickups and connected to the second fixation device.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2010Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: GDK CorporationInventor: Gordon van Ekstrom
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Publication number: 20120137851Abstract: A bridge assembly having a saddle plate with a first aperture, and a tremolo block with a second aperture aligned with the first aperture. A bushing extends through the first and second apertures and is rotatable relative to the tremolo block. The bushing has an internal bore with a longitudinal axis and being substantially concentric with the tremolo block's second aperture. An engagement member extends through the bushing and is partially disposed in the internal bore. A tremolo arm has an engagement section with a partially cylindrical shape and a flat engagement surface that defines a plane substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the engagement section. The engagement member is perpendicular to and laterally disposed from the internal bore's longitudinal axis. The engagement member is in frictional engagement with the flat engagement surface when the engagement section is disposed in the internal bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: GDK Enterprises, Inc. (dba GDK Technologies, Inc.)Inventor: Gordon van Ekstrom
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Publication number: 20110113946Abstract: A module for removable insertion into a stringed instrument body, the body having a transverse cavity extending from a lateral edge. A first fixation device is attached to the body in the cavity and having electrically conductive contact members. The module includes a base configured to engage the cavity as the module travels along an axis of movement into the cavity. The pickup module assembly having a base slidably inserted into the cavity along an axis from the lateral edge between removed and inserted positions. A plurality of pickups are carried by the base in operative proximity to the strings. A second fixation device is attached to the base and positioned to slideably engage the first fixation device when the base is in the inserted position. First and second electrical connectors are electrically coupled to the plurality of pickups and connected to the second fixation device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: GDK Technologies, IncInventor: Gordon Van Ekstrom
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Publication number: 20100330817Abstract: A ball plunger-style lateral connector assembly for electrical connections, comprising an electrically conductive connector body with an electrically conductive pin positioned in an aperture in a closed end of the body. A first end portion of the pin member extends at least partially into the interior area of the connector body. An electrically conductive connector plate is adjacent to the closed end of the connector body and engages the first end portion of the pin member and provides an electrical connection therebetween. An insulator sleeve may be disposed in the interior area of the connector body and adjacent to the sidewall of the connector body. An electrically conductive biasing member is disposed in the interior area of the connector body. The biasing member has a first end portion in engagement with the connector plate, and wherein the insulator sleeve is disposed between the biasing member and the connector body.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventor: Gordon van Ekstrom
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Patent number: 7838758Abstract: A module for removable insertion into a body of an instrument having longitudinal strings, the body defining a transverse cavity extending from a lateral edge. The module includes a base configured to engage the cavity as the module travels along an axis of movement into the cavity. A first ball plunger contact is configured to conductively engage a corresponding first contact plate affixed to the body when the module reaches at a first point in movement along the axis and to remain engaged as the module moves into cavity along the axis of movement. A second ball plunger is configured to conductively engage a corresponding second contact plate affixed to the body when the module reaches a second point displaced inwardly from the first point in movement along the axis and to remain engaged as the module continues to move into cavity along the axis of movement.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2009Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: GDK Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Gordon Van Ekstrom
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Publication number: 20100031800Abstract: A module for removable insertion into a body of an instrument having longitudinal strings, the body defining a transverse cavity extending from a lateral edge. The module includes a base configured to engage the cavity as the module travels along an axis of movement into the cavity. A first ball plunger contact is configured to conductively engage a corresponding first contact plate affixed to the body when the module reaches at a first point in movement along the axis and to remain engaged as the module moves into cavity along the axis of movement. A second ball plunger is configured to conductively engage a corresponding second contact plate affixed to the body when the module reaches a second point displaced inwardly from the first point in movement along the axis and to remain engaged as the module continues to move into cavity along the axis of movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2009Publication date: February 11, 2010Inventor: Gordon Van Ekstrom
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Patent number: 7538269Abstract: A sliding mount for removable insertion of a module into a body of an instrument having longitudinal strings, the body defining a transverse cavity extending from a lateral edge. The sliding mount includes a blade for fixation to the module by a generally planar face generally parallel to and spaced apart from a plane the strings define. The blade has first and second edges oriented perpendicularly to the lateral edge when inserted into the body. A sheath for fixation to the body by a generally planar face is configured to receive the blade. The sheath has a first and second lip configured to define opposing channels the edges that slidingly engage upon insertion of the blade into the sheath.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2007Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Inventor: Gordon Van Ekstrom
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Publication number: 20080141851Abstract: A sliding mount for removable insertion of a module into a body of an instrument having longitudinal strings, the body defining a transverse cavity extending from a lateral edge. The sliding mount includes a blade for fixation to the module by a generally planar face generally parallel to and spaced apart from a plane the strings define. The blade has first and second edges oriented perpendicularly to the lateral edge when inserted into the body. A sheath for fixation to the body by a generally planar face is configured to receive the blade. The sheath has a first and second lip configured to define opposing channels the edges that slidingly engage upon insertion of the blade into the sheath.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2007Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventor: Gordon Van Ekstrom
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Publication number: 20080141841Abstract: A module for removable insertion into a body of an instrument having longitudinal strings defines a transverse cavity extending from a lateral edge. The module includes a base configured to engage the cavity. At least one pickup is secured to the base such that upon insertion into the cavity the pickup is in operative proximity to the strings. The pickup has a first and second electrode. A first electrical contact is in first electrical connection to first electrode. A second electrical contact is in second electrical connection to the second electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventor: Gordon Van Ekstrom