Stringed instrument fretboard for use with light-system
AssigneeOptek Music Systems, Inc.
InventorJohn R. Shaffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fingerboard (or fretboard) for use with a stringed instrument and light-system is disclosed and has a bottom surface adapted to mate or be attached to a neck of the instrument, and has wells extending from the bottom surface toward, but not through, a top surface. The wells are sized to receive a light-emitting device, such as LEDs, and are positioned along the fingerboard according to finger positions of the instrument. Illumination from the light-emitting devices is visible to a player of the instrument, however, when the devices are not illuminated, the fingerboard appears substantially as one made without the wells. The structure is useful for learning to play the instrument, while not appearing as a learning device.
Claims23
A fingerboard for a stringed instrument comprising:
- an elongated structure having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface sized to be disposed on an upper surface of a neck base of a stringed instrument, the top surface having at least one finger position;
- and
- an opening in the bottom surface and a well extending therefrom toward, but not through, the top surface, the well sized to receive a concealed light-emitting device and having a height measured from the bottom surface to allow light from the light-emitting device to be visible to a player of the instrument, the opening disposed at a location designating the finger position on the top surface, wherein the top surface appears substantially opaque.
(canceled)
A neck assembly for a stringed instrument comprising:
- an elongated neck structure having a head end and a body end, the body end adapted to mate with a body of a stringed instrument, and the structure having an upper surface adapted to mate with a fingerboard;
- an elongated fingerboard structure having a substantially opaque top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface sized to be disposed on an upper surface of the neck, the top surface having at least one finger position;
- and
- a plurality of wells formed in the bottom surface of the fingerboard, wherein each of the plurality of wells extends toward, but not through, the top surface, and each of the plurality of wells is positioned and sized to receive a concealed light-emitting device and has a height measured from the bottom surface to allow light from the concealed light-emitting device to be visible to a player of the instrument, wherein the plurality of wells are disposed at locations designating the at least one finger position on the top surface.
18-26. (canceled)
A learning tool for learning to play a stringed instrument comprising:
- a fingerboard disposed on a neck base of a stringed instrument, the fingerboard having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface sized to be disposed on an upper surface of the neck base, the top surface having at least one finger position and appearing substantially opaque;
- an opening in the bottom surface of the fingerboard and a well extending therefrom toward, but not through, the top surface, the well sized to receive a concealed light-emitting device and having a height measured from the bottom surface to allow light emitted from the concealed light-emitting device to be visible to a player of the instrument and the concealed light-emitting device to be substantially hidden from the player when not illuminated, the opening disposed at a location designating the at least one finger position on the top surface;
- and
- the concealed light-emitting device coupled to a light-system that illuminates the concealed light-emitting device according to a musical note or chord.
28-40. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.