Patents by Inventor Kiyoshi Minakuchi

Kiyoshi Minakuchi 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).

  • Publication number: 20010052281
    Abstract: A stringed instrument such as an electric guitar has a specially designed body structure, which is configured by a body frame, a center block, at least one bridge, a front board, a back board and a back cover. The bridge is arranged between a side portion of the body frame and a side wall of the center block, thus partitioning an interior space of the body frame to provide a vacant space for arranging electrical parts. Because of the provision of the bridge, it is possible to improve rigidity of the body structure. Herein, the vacant space is reduced in size and area, and it is encompassed by the side portion of the body frame, the side wall of the center block and the bridge. The front board is used to completely cover the front side of the body frame. The back board is partially cut out and is used to cover the back side of the body except for the opening area of the vacant space inside of the body frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Jamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Minakuchi
  • Publication number: 20010042433
    Abstract: A bonding structure is provided, which is capable of eliminating overflow of the adhesive to the outside of the body, and which is capable of eliminating generation of a shrinkage cavity. The cross-section of a rib member 10 is to have approximate H shaped cross section, which shape is formed by an internal flange 11 and an external flange 12, each connected by a web 13, and the plate members are adhered to the top and bottom surfaces 11A and 11B of the internal flange 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Minakuchi
  • Patent number: 6255567
    Abstract: An electric guitar has a body, a neck projecting from the body, strings stretched over the body and the neck and a pick-up attached to the body under the strings for producing an electric signal representative of vibrations of the strings, wherein the body has a body frame of metal/alloy or synthetic resin, a center block formed of metal/alloy/synthetic resin or wood and fixedly accommodated in the inner space of the body frame and deck plates adhered to both surfaces of the body frame so that a manufacturer produces the body through a simple process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Minakuchi
  • Patent number: 4829873
    Abstract: The string fixing device adopts lock members arranged on the top surface of a head near the boundary area between the neck and head of a string instrument. One end of the strings are fixedly sandwiched between a pressing member and the top surface of the lock member, thereby being fixed to the head. Since the lock member and the pressing member function as a nut, length of the string is determined as the length as measured from the bridge to the position fixedly sandwiched by the lock member. String height adjusting means adjusts height of the lock member as measured from the top surface of the head as occasion demands. As a result, the string fixing device adjusts, on one side, height of the string as measured from the head at the position sandwiched and fixed between the top surface of the lock member and the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Suzuki, Kiyoshi Minakuchi
  • Patent number: 4827824
    Abstract: An electric guitar having a vibrato function includes first and second operation elements and an operating unit. The first operation element can designate a pitch width to be changed by setting a first pitch width as a unit. The second operation element can designate a pitch width to be changed by setting a pitch width smaller than the first pitch width as a unit. The operating unit performs an operation of the pitch width to be changed, which has been designated by the first operation element, and of the pitch width to be changed, which has been designated by the second operation element. The operating unit forms the control information representing a width of pitch change of a vibrato to be imparted on the basis of the operation result, thereby imparting the vibrato effect on a musical tone to be produced in accordance with the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Minakuchi
  • Patent number: 4763555
    Abstract: A tremolo unit mechanism for an electric guitar includes a bridge base vertically disposed to be pivotal about a support point on a body, balancing springs for causing a balance moment along a direction opposite to that of a moment due to a tension of strings to act on the bridge base, bridge main bodies, disposed on the bridge base, for holding one end of each of the strings, octave adjusting screws, threadably engaged with the bridge base, for moving the bridge base along a front-to-rear direction, a tremolo arm, mounted in the bridge base, for moving the bridge base vertically, and a control mechanism for controlling pivotal movement of the bridge base. The control mechanism includes an engaging member for engaging with the bridge base and a screw member for controlling pivotal movement/displacement of the engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Minakuchi, Junji Tomita