Patents by Inventor Michael S. Hanks

Michael S. Hanks 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: 11170748
    Abstract: A musical instrument, for example, a keyboard guitar, includes a body, an elongated neck coupled to the body, neck keys disposed on the elongated neck, and an output for transmitting an electrical signal generated by the musical instrument. Activation of each neck key generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note. The musical instrument may also include body keys disposed on the body, and a strum bar that generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note based on which of the body keys are activated during activation of the strum bar. Further, the musical instrument may include a continuous graphic image spanning the front face of the body and the body keys, forming a continuous pattern that is unbroken across a transition between key surfaces of the body keys and the front face of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventor: Michael S. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20200066242
    Abstract: A musical instrument, for example, a keyboard guitar, includes a body, an elongated neck coupled to the body, neck keys disposed on the elongated neck, and an output for transmitting an electrical signal generated by the musical instrument. Activation of each neck key generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note. The musical instrument may also include body keys disposed on the body, and a strum bar that generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note based on which of the body keys are activated during activation of the strum bar. Further, the musical instrument may include a continuous graphic image spanning the front face of the body and the body keys, forming a continuous pattern that is unbroken across a transition between key surfaces of the body keys and the front face of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: Michael S. HANKS
  • Patent number: 10460710
    Abstract: A musical instrument, for example, a keyboard guitar, includes a body, an elongated neck coupled to the body, neck keys disposed on the elongated neck, and an output for transmitting an electrical signal generated by the musical instrument. Activation of each neck key generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note. The musical instrument may also include body keys disposed on the body, and a strum bar that generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note based on which of the body keys are activated during activation of the strum bar. Further, the musical instrument may include a continuous graphic image spanning the front face of the body and the body keys, forming a continuous pattern that is unbroken across a transition between key surfaces of the body keys and the front face of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventor: Michael S. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20190122647
    Abstract: A musical instrument, for example, a keyboard guitar, includes a body, an elongated neck coupled to the body, neck keys disposed on the elongated neck, and an output for transmitting an electrical signal generated by the musical instrument. Activation of each neck key generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note. The musical instrument may also include body keys disposed on the body, and a strum bar that generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note based on which of the body keys are activated during activation of the strum bar. Further, the musical instrument may include a continuous graphic image spanning the front face of the body and the body keys, forming a continuous pattern that is unbroken across a transition between key surfaces of the body keys and the front face of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: Michael S. HANKS
  • Patent number: 10157602
    Abstract: A musical instrument, for example, a keyboard guitar, includes a body, an elongated neck coupled to the body, neck keys disposed on the elongated neck, and an output for transmitting an electrical signal generated by the musical instrument. Activation of each neck key generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note. The musical instrument may also include body keys disposed on the body, and a strum bar that generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note based on which of the body keys are activated during activation of the strum bar. Further, the musical instrument may include a continuous graphic image spanning the front face of the body and the body keys, forming a continuous pattern that is unbroken across a transition between key surfaces of the body keys and the front face of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Inventor: Michael S. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20170278500
    Abstract: A musical instrument, for example, a keyboard guitar, includes a body, an elongated neck coupled to the body, neck keys disposed on the elongated neck, and an output for transmitting an electrical signal generated by the musical instrument. Activation of each neck key generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note. The musical instrument may also include body keys disposed on the body, and a strum bar that generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note based on which of the body keys are activated during activation of the strum bar. Further, the musical instrument may include a continuous graphic image spanning the front face of the body and the body keys, forming a continuous pattern that is unbroken across a transition between key surfaces of the body keys and the front face of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventor: Michael S. Hanks
  • Patent number: 8847051
    Abstract: A musical instrument includes: a body including a keybed having a plurality of keys, wherein activation of each key creates an electrical signal at an output, wherein said electrical signal represents a pitch associated with a musical note; an elongated neck connected to the body; and a plurality of transpose buttons located along the length of the neck, wherein the transpose buttons of the fretboard are configured to control the tuning of the keys in the keybed such that activation of each of the transpose button alters the pitch represented by the electrical signal that is output by of each of the keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Michael S. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20130255474
    Abstract: A musical instrument includes: a body including a keybed having a plurality of keys, wherein activation of each key creates an electrical signal at an output, wherein said electrical signal represents a pitch associated with a musical note; an elongated neck connected to the body; and a plurality of transpose buttons located along the length of the neck, wherein the transpose buttons of the fretboard are configured to control the tuning of the keys in the keybed such that activation of each of the transpose button alters the pitch represented by the electrical signal that is output by of each of the keys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Michael S. Hanks