# US 2014/0196590 A1 · Musical instrument string bender > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196590 A1 - Document ID: US20140196590A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/109,168 - Filed: 2013-12-17 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Inventors: Joseph Glaser, II; John Russell ALFORD - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196590A1 ## CPC - G10D 1/08: Guitars - G10D 3/00: Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars - G10D 3/04: Bridges - G10D 3/14: Tuning devices, e.g. pegs, pins, friction discs or worm gears - G10D 3/147: Devices for altering the string tension during playing - G10D 3/153: Tremolo devices - G10D: STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (organs, harmoniums or similar wind musical instruments with associated blowing apparatus G10B; pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards G10C; automatic musical instruments G10F; electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are generated by electromechanical means G10H) ## Abstract A musical instrument string bending apparatus for a musical instrument having at least a first and second string is disclosed. The bending apparatus includes a bender lever pivotally secured to the musical instrument, a rocker arm pivotally secured to the instrument for varying the tension in the first string in response to movement of the bender lever between the first and second positions. A rocker arm mount secures the rocker arm to the first selected string in a first bending configuration or to the second selected string in a second bending configuration. The rocker arm is movable between the first selected string and the second selected string of the musical instrument. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A musical instrument pitch changing apparatus for a musical instrument having at least first and second strings comprising comprising: a bender lever pivotally secured to the musical instrument for moving between first and second positions; a bender saddle secured to the musical instrument for varying the tension in the first string in response to movement of the bender lever between the first and second positions; a modified string mount for securing the bender saddle to the first selected string in a first bending configuration or to the second selected string in a second bending configuration; wherein the bender saddle is movable between the first selected string and the second selected string of the musical instrument. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a rocker arm secured to the bender saddle; a push block comprising a first collector arm secured to and extending from the push block; a second collector arm secured to and extending from the push block substantially opposite the first collector arm; wherein the first collector arm engages the bender saddle in the first bending configuration, and wherein the second collector arm engages the bender saddle in the second bending configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first collector arm secured to the push block is vertically offset from the second collector arm secured to the push block. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an arch block positioned within a body of the musical instrument, wherein the bender saddle is secured to the arch block for anchoring the bender saddle to the instrument. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 4, wherein the arch block includes a string guide substantially aligned with the bender saddle when the bender saddle is in either the first bending configuration or the second bending configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a bender lever stop adjacent the bender lever for contacting the bender lever when the bender lever is the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The musical string bending apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bender lever stop is adjustable for varying the second position of the bender lever. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The musical string bending apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bender saddle includes a bore in a front portion of the bender saddle for receiving a string through the front of the bender saddle. ### Claim 9 A musical instrument string bending apparatus for a musical instrument having at least first and second strings comprising: a bender lever pivotally secured to the musical instrument for pivotally moving between first and second positions; a first rocker arm pivotally secured to the musical instrument for varying the tension in the first string in response to movement of the bender lever between the first and second positions; and a second rocker arm pivotally secured to the musical instrument for varying the tension in the second string in response to movement of the bender lever between the first and second stop positions; a mechanical drive positioned between the bender lever and the first and second rocker arms for transmitting force to at least one of the rocker arms in response to movement of the bender lever; a switch movable by a user between first and second positions, the mechanical drive being configured to drive the first rocker arm when the switch is in the first position and being configured to drive the second rocker arm when the switch is in the second position; wherein the musical instrument is configured for being swapped from a first bender configuration wherein the first string of the musical instrument is varied by the bender lever and a second bender configuration wherein the second string of the musical instrument is varied. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 9, wherein: the mechanical drive further comprises: a central lever arm pivotally secured to the musical instrument and secured to the bender lever; a first lever arm and a first bender rod secured thereto, the first bender rod secured to the first rocker arm; a second lever arm independent from and positioned adjacent to the first lever arm and a second bender rod secured thereto, the second bender rod secured to the second rocker arm; wherein the central lever arm engages the first lever arm, first bender rod and first rocker arm for varying the tension in the first string of the musical instrument when the switch is in the first position; and wherein the central lever arm engages the second lever arm, second bender saddle and second rocker arm for varying the tension in the second string of the musical instrument when the switch is in the second position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: a first adjustable vertical collector slidably secured to the first rocker arm for adjusting the position at which the first bender rod is secured to the first rocker arm; and a second adjustable vertical collector slidably secured to the second rocker arm for adjusting the position at which the second bender rod is secured to the second rocker arm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first adjustable vertical collector and second adjustable vertical collector are secured to a threaded adjustment rod for slidably adjusting the position of the first and second vertical collectors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a first bender saddle secured to the first rocker arm for securing the first string to the musical instrument, and a second bender saddle secured to the second rocker arm for securing the second string to the musical instrument. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first and second bender saddles include a bore through a front cam portion of the bender saddle for receiving the first and seconds strings through the front of the first and second bender saddles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The musical instrument string bending apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a bender lever stop adjacent the bender lever for contacting the bender lever when the bender lever is the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The musical string bending apparatus of claim 15 wherein the bender lever stop is adjustable for varying the second position of the bender lever. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The musical string bending apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a bender lever lockout for securing the bender lever in the first position. ### Claim 18 A method for bending a string of a musical instrument comprising: securing a first string of the musical instrument to a first bender saddle and a second string of the musical instrument to a second bender saddle; selectively engaging either the first string or the second string with a drive mechanism secured to a bender lever, the drive mechanism configured to be in a first configuration secured to the first bender saddle or a second configuration secured to the second saddle; bending the selected first string or the selected second string secured to the bender lever by moving the bender lever from a first position to a second position and transmitting the movement of the bender lever to either the first string or the second string depending on the configuration of the drive mechanism. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of independently adjusting the amount of pitch change achieved in the first string or the second string when the bender lever moves from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the amount of pitch change achieved in the first string or the second string when the bender lever moves from the first position to the second position is pre-set, such that when a user subsequently engages the first string or the second string the amount of desired pitch in the first string or the second string is achieved. ### Claim 21 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the step of selectively engaging either the first string or the second string occurs while a user is playing the musical instrument.