# US 2017/0256241 A1 · Dynamic fret > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0256241 A1 - Document ID: US20170256241A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/509,245 - Filed: 2015-09-07 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-09 - Inventors: Antonio Cirillo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170256241A1 ## CPC - G10D 1/00: General design of stringed musical instruments - G10D 3/06: Necks; Fingerboards, e.g. fret boards - G10D 3/08: Fingerboards in the form of keyboards - G10D 3/14: Tuning devices, e.g. pegs, pins, friction discs or worm gears - 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 mechanical device is described, integrated in a fret board of a cord-type music instrument as replacement of a fret adapted to cross the fret board from the front surface to the rear surface of the fret board; the mechanical device comprises: a bridge element arranged on the rear surface of the fret board; a rider means, adapted to vertically cross the fret board of the cord-type music instrument and to be connected with the bridge element; an elastic means, equipped with a first end connected to the bridge element, and with a second end strictly connected to at least one room obtained in the fret board. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-21. (canceled) ### Claim 22 A mechanical device integrated in a fret board of a cord-type music instrument as replacement of a fret, wherein the mechanical device crosses the fret board from the front surface to the rear surface of the fret board, the mechanical device comprising: a bridge element arranged on the rear surface of the fret board; rider means, adapted to vertically cross the fret board of the cord-type music instrument and to be connected to the bridge element, the rider means being composed of at least one horizontal element, placed on the front surface of the fret board of the cord-type music instrument and of at least two vertical elements connected on the top to the horizontal element, conferring to the rider means a π shape; and elastic means, equipped with a first end connected to the bridge element, and of a second end connected to a room obtained in the fret board. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The mechanical device of claim 22, adapted to perform a homogeneous pressure on a plurality of chords horizontally stretched on the fret board of the music instrument, the device being activated by at least one pressing action of the thumb of a user's hand, placed on the rear surface of the fret board, the pressing action being adapted to impress at least one force on the bridge element, the force being transmitted to the elastic element, the elastic element contracting itself inducing a vertical upwards movement of the mechanical device, enabling a contact in at least one point of the rider means with the plurality of chords of the music instrument, configuring the device in at least one dynamic phase. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The mechanical device of claim 22, wherein adapted to perform a homogeneous pressure on a plurality of chords horizontally stretched on the fret board of the music instrument, the device being activated by at least one pressing action of the thumb of a user's hand, placed on the rear surface of the fret board, the pressing action being adapted to impress at least one force on the bridge element, the pressing action of the thumb being followed by a release action of the bridge element, by the thumb, inducing a release of the elastic element, and a vertical downwards movement of the mechanical device configuring the device in at least one static phase. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The mechanical device of claim 22, wherein the fret board comprises, in its central portion, at least one removable keyboard portion fastened to the horizontal element, through at least one mechanical fastening system, adapted to enable a rotary movement by an angle of the removable keyboard portion. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The mechanical device of claim 25, wherein the fret board further comprises, in its central portion, the mechanical device, and at least one fixed keyboard portion. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The mechanical device of claim 25, wherein the removable keyboard portion comprises a first and a second lateral profile arranged in parallel with the horizontal element, and respectively fastened to the horizontal element, through the mechanical fastening system, to a first lateral profile of the fixed keyboard portion, through at least one chemical fastening system, enabling the rotary movement of the removable keyboard portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The mechanical device of claim 26, wherein the fixed keyboard portion comprises a first and a second lateral profile arranged in parallel to the horizontal element and to the removable keyboard portion, the second lateral profile of the portion of the keyboard portion being placed next to the horizontal element of the rider means. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The mechanical device of claim 25, wherein the mechanical fastening system comprises at least one connecting element, and the plurality of fastening means, and is adapted to connected the horizontal element to the first lateral profile of the removable keyboard portion, through a connection of each end of the horizontal element respectively with a third and a fourth profile of the removable keyboard portion. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The mechanical device of claim 23, wherein the pressing action induces, through the contraction of the elastic element, the vertical upwards movement of the horizontal element and a rotary movement by the angle of the removable keyboard portion connected to the horizontal element. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The mechanical device of claim 22, wherein the fret board is laterally equipped with at least two longitudinal reinforcing elements, adapted to reinforce the fret board, guaranteeing the resistance to the pressing action of the thumb of the hand of the user. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The mechanical device of claim 31, wherein the reinforcing elements are arranged in parallel with the fret board and fastened through the plurality of fastening means. ### Claim 33 (depends on 22) The mechanical device of claim 22, optimized by a manual insertion, on the rear surface of the fret board, of at least one mobile element, the mobile element being adapted to impress at least one constant pressing action on the bridge element, inducing the vertical upwards movement of the mechanical device, through a constant contraction of the elastic element, configuring the mechanical device, in the main fret. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The mechanical device of claim 33, wherein the mobile element is composed of: at least two slits adapted to fasten the mobile element on the rear surface of the fret board through the plurality of fastening means; at least one central body adapted to be interfaced with the bridge element; and at least one knob element adapted to allow an easy manual insertion of the mobile element by the user. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) A cord-type music instrument, equipped with the mechanical device of claim 22, wherein optimized by an insertion on the main fret of at least one first blocking means of the plurality of chords, and by a positioning on the harmonic box of the music instrument, in front of at least one chord-tending bridge, of at least one second blocking means. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The cord-type music instrument of claim 35, wherein the first and second blocking means are parallelepiped elements, equipped inside them with a plurality of channels, adapted to the passage and simultaneously to the blockage of the plurality of chords.