# US 2021/0241726 A1 · Stringed Instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241726 A1 - Document ID: US20210241726A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/754,993 - Filed: 2018-10-15 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-16 - Inventors: Archibald Ian Jeremy Brain - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241726A1 ## CPC - G10D 1/08: Guitars - G10D 3/04: Bridges - G10D 3/095: Details of removable or collapsible necks, e.g. suitable for transport or storage - G10D 3/12: Anchoring devices for strings, e.g. tail pieces or hitchpins - 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 comprising a body and a neck for supporting a set of strings, further comprising demountable means for detaching the strings as a single piece from the instrument. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A musical instrument comprising a body and a neck for supporting a set of strings, further comprising demountable means for detaching the strings as a single piece from the instrument. ### Claim 2 A musical instrument comprising a first set of strings and a second set of strings, wherein the instrument is adapted to allow for attachment of either the first set of strings or the second set of strings. ### Claim 3 A musical instrument comprising a body and a neck for supporting a set of strings, the instrument further comprising a junction box adapted to reversibly join the neck and body of the instrument and to provide structural rigidity to the neck and body of the instrument. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3) An instrument according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the instrument is a collapsible instrument. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2, 3, 4) A musical instrument according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the first set of strings is a set of strings for a classical instrument and the second set of strings is a set of strings for an acoustic instrument. ### Claim 6 An instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the instrument comprises a headstock and means for detachably securing the headstock to the neck. ### Claim 7 An instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the tension of the strings maintains the instrument in the assembled condition. ### Claim 8 An instrument according to any preceding claim, comprising means for rapid release of the strings from the instrument. ### Claim 9 An instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the instrument comprises first and/or second guiding means for guiding the strings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An instrument according to claim 9, wherein the first guiding means is adapted to pivot, relative to the headstock without lateral movement relative thereto to guide the strings into position relative to each other at the headstock. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9, 10) An instrument according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the second guiding means is adapted to maintain the position of the strings relative to each other at the headstock. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9, 10, 11) An instrument according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the second guiding means comprises a fulcrum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An instrument according to claim 12, wherein the second guiding means is adapted to confer tension to the strings via the fulcrum. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12, 13) An instrument according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the fulcrum is positioned above the strings and prevents the strings from lifting away from the plane of the headstock during rotation of the headstock with respect to the neck of the instrument. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12, 13, 14) An instrument according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the fulcrum comprises a roller bar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) An instrument according to any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the first guiding means is attached to the second guiding means. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) An instrument according to any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the second guiding means is adapted to serve as an axis for the first guiding means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) An instrument according to any one of claims 9 to 17, wherein the second guiding means is attached to a central rib of the headstock. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) An instrument according to any one of claims 9 to 18, wherein a central portion of the second guiding means is attached to the first guiding means and/or to the headstock and wherein the second guiding means comprises free outer ends. ### Claim 20 An instrument according to any preceding claim, further comprising a slidable extension part adapted to assist in attaching and/or detaching the headstock from the neck of the instrument. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) An instrument according to claim 20, wherein the slidable extension part provides a lever for the rapid release of the headstock from the instrument. ### Claim 22 An instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the neck is removably connected to the body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) An instrument according to any one of claims 3 to 22, wherein the junction box acts as an anchor point to connect the neck and body of the instrument. ### Claim 24 (depends on 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23) An instrument according to any one of claims 3 to 23, wherein the junction box houses a reversible attachment mechanism for attaching and/or detaching the neck to and/or from the body of the instrument. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An instrument according to claim 24, wherein the reversible attachment mechanism comprises locking and/or unlocking means. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24, 25) An instrument according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the reversible attachment mechanism comprises a latch member. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) An instrument according to claim 26, wherein the latch member comprises a hook. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26, 27) An instrument according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the latch member engages with a locking member or locking aperture provided on the neck of the instrument. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26, 27, 28) An instrument according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the latch member is rotatable. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26, 27, 28, 29) An instrument according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein the instrument comprises an operating handle attached to the latch member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) An instrument according to claim 30, wherein rotation of the operating handle drives movement of the latch member to enable a user to move the latch member from a locked and/or unlocked position to an unlocked and/or locked position. ### Claim 32 (depends on 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) An instrument according to any one of claims 3 to 31, wherein the junction box is housed inside the body of the instrument. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) An instrument according to claim 32, wherein the junction box is held in place within the body of the instrument by means of a fixation bolt, glue or other attachment means. ### Claim 34 (depends on 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33) An instrument according to any one of claims 3 to 33, wherein the junction box comprises wood or a plastics material such as nylon and/or polyoxymethylene (Delrin). ### Claim 35 (depends on 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34) An instrument according to any one of claims 3 to 34, wherein the junction box is formed by 3D printing. ### Claim 36 (depends on 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34) An instrument according to any one of claims 3 to 34, wherein the junction box is formed by injection moulding. ### Claim 37 An instrument according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for adjusting the neck of the instrument. ### Claim 38 An instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the instrument further comprises at least one wheel. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37, 38) An instrument according to claim 37 or 38, wherein the instrument comprises two wheels. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38, 39) An instrument according to claim 38 or 39, wherein the at least one wheel is rotatable. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38, 39, 40) An instrument according to any one of claims 38 to 40, wherein the at least one wheel permits the neck of the instrument to rotate slightly to the left or right side about its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) An instrument according to claim 41, wherein rotation of the at least one wheel adjusts the position of the neck relative to the strings. ### Claim 43 (depends on 38, 39, 40, 41, 42) An instrument according to any one of claims 38 to 42, wherein the at least one wheel comprises a rim which is thicker on one side than the other, so that each side of the neck can be raised or lowered with respect to the strings depending on the thickness of the rim of the wheel where it bears against a grooved bearing surface of the junction box. ### Claim 44 (depends on 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43) An instrument according to any one of claims 38 to 43, wherein the at least one wheel is marked on the outer-facing surface such that the user can identify a maximum area of thickness and a minimum area of thickness. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) An instrument according to claim 44, wherein the maximum area of thickness is around 5 mm. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44, 45) An instrument according to claim 44 or 45, wherein the minimum area of thickness is around 2 mm. ### Claim 47 (depends on 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) An instrument according to any one of claims 38 to 46, wherein adjustment of the at least one wheel can only be made when the neck is not locked in place. ### Claim 48 An instrument according to any preceding claim, further comprising a bridge for receiving the strings and means for securing the strings to the bridge. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) An instrument according to claim 48, wherein the bridge comprises a detachable portion and a non-detachable portion. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) An instrument according to claim 49, wherein the non-detachable portion is adapted to secure to the detachable portion. ### Claim 51 (depends on 49, 50) An instrument according to claim 49 or 50, wherein the detachable portion further comprises demountable means for coupling to the strings of the instrument. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) An instrument according to claim 51, wherein the demountable means for coupling the strings comprises at least one aperture for each of the strings in the detachable portion. ### Claim 53 (depends on 49, 50, 51, 52) An instrument according to any one of claims 49 to 52, wherein the non-detachable portion comprises a retaining means to prevent inadvertent detachment of the detachable portion, the retaining means adapted to retain the detachable portion against the tension of the strings. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) An instrument according to claim 53, wherein the retaining means comprises means to prevent movement of the detachable portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the body. ### Claim 55 (depends on 53, 54) An instrument according to claim 53 or 54, wherein the retaining means comprises a lip, wherein the lip protrudes in a plane substantially parallel to the body of the instrument in a direction away from the neck of the stringed instrument. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) An instrument according to claim 55, wherein the lip comprises the string retaining channels through which each string can pass. ### Claim 57 (depends on 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56) An instrument according to any one of claims 49 to 56, wherein the detachable and/or non-detachable portion has a tongue. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) An instrument according to claim 57, wherein the detachable and/or non-detachable portion comprises a groove, wherein the tongue reversibly couples to the groove such that the tongue is secured by the groove. ### Claim 59 (depends on 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58) An instrument according to any one of claims 48 to 58, wherein the strings may be removed from the instrument via the headstock and/or via the bridge. ### Claim 60 An instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the instrument is a guitar. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) An instrument according to claim 60, wherein the instrument is a classical guitar or an acoustic guitar. ### Claim 62 (depends on 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61) A method of reversibly attaching a neck and body of an instrument comprising a junction box according to any one of claims 3 to 61. ### Claim 63 (depends on 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62) A method of forming an instrument comprising a junction box according to any one of claims 3 to 62. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) A method according to claim 63, wherein the method of forming the junction box comprises the step of using 3D printing. ### Claim 65 (depends on 63) A method according to claim 63, wherein the method of forming the junction box comprises the step of using injection moulding.