Abstract: An electric contrabass has a bridge structure on a body in which an inner space is defined, and the body is further formed with a slit under the bridge structure so that the lid of the body vibrates like a cantilever; a vibration sensor is provided inside the body, and has a vibration sensitive surface held in contact with the lower surface of the lid; while a player is bowing the strings, the vibrating strings excite the lid through the bridge structure, and the vibrations of the lid is converted to an electric signal through the vibration sensor; since the distance from the vibrating strings and the single vibration sensor is approximately equal, the single vibration sensor produces the electric signal without undesirable imbalance and interference.

Abstract: Strings are stretched between pegs and a tailpiece both forming parts of an electric base; the strings passes through the space between the body and the tailpiece, and are folded over the obverse surface of the tailpiece; although the body is shorter than that of a standard electric base, the decorative end portions, which are covered with colored yarns, do not reach a bridge, and are not bowed in performance; thus, the tailpiece makes it possible to use the short body without sacrifice of the tactile sense at the fingers in the bowing.

Abstract: An electric double-bass is broken down into a trunk, a detachable framework assembled with the trunk, coupling units provided between the trunk and the detachable framework, accessory parts, strings stretched over the trunk and an electric sound generating system for generating electric tones like acoustic tones of a double-bass, and any resonator is formed in the electric double-bass, wherein a string player disassembles the detachable framework from the trunk for storing the electric double-bass in a case, thereby enhancing the portability of the electric double-bass.

Abstract: Provided as a voice coil-type linear motor is a linear motor which achieves relatively high output power, small size and light weight, high thrust, and high efficiency, such as to be available as an industrial linear motor. Ends of inside yokes are coupled by means of auxiliary yokes, outside yokes are configured such that inner peripheral surfaces of magnets are of different magnetic poles, a closed magnetic path is formed by the inside yokes, auxiliary yokes, outside yokes, and magnets. By feeding current to coils, magnetic action is caused to occur between a magnetic field generated by the closed magnetic path and the coils, so that the outside yokes and the inside yokes may move relative to each other.

Abstract: An electric double-bass is broken down into a trunk, a detachable framework assembled with the trunk, coupling units provided between the trunk and the detachable framework, accessory parts, strings stretched over the trunk and an electric sound generating system for generating electric tones like acoustic tones of a double-bass, and any resonator is formed in the electric double-bass, wherein a string player disassembles the detachable framework from the trunk for storing the electric double-bass in a case, thereby enhancing the portability of the electric double-bass.

Abstract: Provided as a voice coil-type linear motor is a linear motor which achieves relatively high output power, small size and light weight, high thrust, and high efficiency, such as to be available as an industrial linear motor. Ends of inside yokes are coupled by means of auxiliary yokes, outside yokes are configured such that inner peripheral surfaces of magnets are of different magnetic poles, a closed magnetic path is formed by the inside yokes, auxiliary yokes, outside yokes, and magnets. By feeding current to coils, magnetic action is caused to occur between a magnetic field generated by the closed magnetic path and the coils, so that the outside yokes and the inside yokes may move relative to each other.

Abstract: A stringed instrument such as a contrabass uses a height-adjustable bridge assembly for supporting strings under tension with a desired height, which is manually adjusted by a human operator. The bridge assembly is mainly constructed by a bridge whose lower end portion is forked to form a pair of legs and a pair of height-adjustment members, each of which is constructed by a screw rod and a foot. The legs of the bridge are respectively assembled together with the height-adjustment members being held inside of a hollow which is formed at a prescribed position and elongated in a direction roughly perpendicular to the strings being stretched on a belly of the stringed instrument. Herein, each leg has a hole formed with an internal thread which engages with an upper portion of the screw rod whose lower portion is buried in the foot which is held inside of the hollow in a free rotation manner.

Abstract: An electric double-bass is broken down into a trunk, a detachable framework assembled with the trunk, coupling units provided between the trunk and the detachable framework, accessory parts, strings stretched over the trunk and an electric sound generating system for generating electric tones like acoustic tones of a double-bass, and any resonator is formed in the electric double-bass, wherein a string player disassembles the detachable framework from the trunk for storing the electric double-bass in a case, thereby enhancing the portability of the electric double-bass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for extending neurites, using a composition containing a polyalkoxyflavonoid having a specific structure, especially nobiletin or tangeretin. It is found that also a composition containing an extract from a plant belonging to the citrus family has an activity to extend neurites. These compositions are useful to prevent and/or improve or treat neurodegeneration diseases such as Alzheimer's dementia and encephalic ischemia by accelerating extension of neurites.

Abstract: An electric double-bass is broken down into a trunk, a detachable framework assembled with the trunk, coupling units provided between the trunk and the detachable framework, accessory parts, strings stretched over the trunk and an electric sound generating system for generating electric tones like acoustic tones of a double-bass, and any resonator is formed in the electric double-bass, wherein a string player disassembles the detachable framework from the trunk for storing the electric double-bass in a case, thereby enhancing the portability of the electric double-bass.

Abstract: A stringed instrument such as a contrabass uses a height-adjustable bridge assembly for supporting strings under tension with a desired height, which is manually adjusted by a human operator. The bridge assembly is mainly constructed by a bridge whose lower end portion is forked to form a pair of legs and a pair of height-adjustment members, each of which is constructed by a screw rod and a foot. The legs of the bridge are respectively assembled together with the height-adjustment members being held inside of a hollow which is formed at a prescribed position and elongated in a direction roughly perpendicular to the strings being stretched on a belly of the stringed instrument. Herein, each leg has a hole formed with an internal thread which engages with an upper portion of the screw rod whose lower portion is buried in the foot which is held inside of the hollow in a free rotation manner.

Abstract: An electric cello has a frame body, a stretchable frame of which is changed between a stretched position spread from a trunk and a shrunk position in close proximity of the trunk so that a cellist easily carries the electric cello in his arms.

Abstract: An hour chime clock has an hour-indicating hand and a plurality of display units disposed circumferentially around the hour-indicating hand at different hour positions. The display units are displaceable between two positions to display either an ornament or an hour numeral. At each hour, a melody chimes and the display units undergo a predetermined pattern of movements. After chiming the hour, the display unit at the present hour position is placed in a different display state from the display state of all the other display units.

Abstract: A timepiece having a housing and at least one decorative element mounted for rotation relative to the housing. The mounting comprises a rotary member supporting the decorative element and rotatably mounted on a shaft connected to the housing, a stationary gear mounted on the shaft, a drive motor mounted on the rotary member for rotation therewith, and a pinion for engaging the drive motor with the stationary gear to effect rotation of the decorative element.