Low-friction bridge for stringed instrument
AssigneeIntune Technologies Limited
InventorCosmos Lyles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low-friction bridge for a stringed musical instrument employs a roller saddle that is adapted and positioned to roll upon a race. The race includes structure to guide the roller saddle as it rolls. A musical string is seated in a circumferential groove/saddle formed in the roller saddle. As the musical string stretches or contracts the saddle rolls, and thus the musical string does not slide in the saddle. As such sliding friction is avoided in favor of rolling friction of the roller saddle rolling upon the race. One or more contact members can be biased into contact with side faces of the roller saddle.
Claims13
A low-friction musical string support, comprising:
- a roller configured to roll within a race defined by opposing first and second race side walls, the roller having opposing first and second side faces that face the opposing first and second race side walls, respectively, the roller further having a circumferential groove configured to accommodate a musical string seated therein;
- a first contact member interposed between the first race side wall and the first side face of the roller;
- and
- a biasing member configured to urge the first contact member into contact with the first side face of the roller;
- wherein when the string moves longitudinally, the roller rolls within the race.
A kit for a bridge of a stringed musical instrument, comprising:
- first, second and third sets of roller saddles, each roller saddle comprising a cylindrical body having a circumferential saddle formed therein, the saddle adapted to accommodate a musical string seated therein, each of the first, second and third sets of roller saddles having a plurality of identical roller saddles, the cylindrical body of the roller saddles in the first set having a first radius, the cylindrical body of the roller saddles in the second set having a second radius greater than the first radius, and the cylindrical body of the roller saddles in the third set having a third radius greater than the second radius;
- and
- a race defining a rolling path of each of the roller saddles.
A low-friction musical string support, comprising:
- a support bearing configured to roll over a race;
- and
- a roller saddle configured to roll upon the support bearing, the roller saddle comprising a string receiver configured to receive a musical string, the musical string being held at a tension;
- wherein when the string elongates, the roller saddle rotates in a first rotational direction and the support bearing rotates in a second rotational direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.