Patents by Inventor Jimmie Ray Melhart

Jimmie Ray Melhart 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: 11881194
    Abstract: A folding marimba may include a first set of spaced apart rails; a first set of tone bars suspended from the first set of spaced apart rails; a second set of spaced apart rails; and a second set of tone bars suspended from the second set of spaced apart rails; wherein the first and second sets of spaced apart rails are configured for hinged rotation about a hinge line such that the marimba is configurable in an unfolded configuration having a first length and a folded configuration having a second length that is less than the first length. For example, the second length may be about half of the first length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: 11605367
    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: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Publication number: 20220139362
    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: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: 11244662
    Abstract: A folding marimba may include a plurality of rails, a plurality of natural bars suspended from some of the rails, and a plurality of accidental bars suspended from some of the rails. In some embodiments, the rails may be mounted to resonator panels. The rails and/or the resonator panels may be configured for hinged rotation such that the marimba is configurable in an unfolded position having a first length and a folded position having a second length that is less than the first length. For example, the second length may be about half of the first length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano And Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20210233502
    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: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: 10930254
    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: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Plano and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Publication number: 20200335071
    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: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: 10643590
    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: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Publication number: 20190304416
    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: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: 10325577
    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: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: 10127900
    Abstract: An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: 9536506
    Abstract: A lighted drum or other article may have a LED strip light and a wireless receiver/decoder in communication with the LED strip light. The wireless receiver/decoder may be configured to receive wireless control signals from a remote computer and control operation of the LED strip light in response to the control signals. Some embodiments may include a trigger assembly engaged with a drum head; a wireless receiver/decoder in communication with the trigger assembly; and at least one LED strip light in communication with the wireless receiver/decoder. The trigger assembly may be configured to generate a trigger signal in response to movement of the drum head. The wireless receiver/decoder may be configured to receive the trigger signal and wireless control signals and control operation of the at least one LED strip light in response to the trigger signal and the control signals. Related systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano and Organ Company
    Inventors: Jimmie Ray Melhart, Samuel David Eanes
  • Publication number: 20160307557
    Abstract: An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: 9378726
    Abstract: An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Publication number: 20140290874
    Abstract: An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: 8783328
    Abstract: An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Paino and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Publication number: 20120152468
    Abstract: An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: 8091605
    Abstract: An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart
  • Patent number: D650611
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Jim Melhart Piano and Organ Company
    Inventor: Jimmie Ray Melhart