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US 8,263,844 B2Granted
Stringed musical instrument neck assemblies
AssigneeOptek Music Systems, Inc.
InventorJohn Shaffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described herein are fingerboards and neck assemblies for use with stringed musical instruments. The neck assembly can include a light-system disposed therein. The light system has a light matrix of light elements. The fingerboard is adapted to conceal the presence of the light elements when the light elements are not illuminated and to allow the passage of at least some illumination from the light elements when the light elements are illuminated.
Claims17
A neck assembly for a stringed musical instrument, comprising:
- a light-system having a plurality of light elements capable of producing illumination when energized to indicate a static musical pattern for a select duration of time, wherein each of the plurality of light elements is configured to produce a first light and a second light different to the first light;
- a fingerboard having an elongated body sized for placement on an instrument neck of the stringed musical instrument, the fingerboard having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a plurality of openings with a plurality of wells extending from the plurality of openings toward, but not through, the top surface, wherein the fingerboard allows illumination produced by the plurality of light elements positioned within the plurality of wells to be viewed from the top surface of the fingerboard and wherein the plurality of light elements, when un-illuminated, are substantially concealed by the fingerboard;
- and
- a substrate adapted to permanently bond to the fingerboard, the light-system being disposed on the substrate, wherein the plurality of light elements are positioned on the substrate to be received by the plurality of wells of the fingerboard;
- wherein the substrate comprises a circuit board, the circuit board having channels for receiving an adhesive to permanently bond the substrate to the bottom side of the fingerboard, wherein the substrate includes a plurality of electrical lands sized and shaped to be positioned at least partly within the plurality of wells of the fingerboard, and wherein each electrical land is located beneath a light element.
2 more elements
A stringed instrument, comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a neck assembly coupled to the body, wherein the neck assembly includes:
- a light-system having a plurality of light elements that emit illumination when energized to indicate at least one of a musical scale pattern and a musical chord pattern for a select duration of time, wherein each of the plurality of light elements is configured to produce a first light and a second light different to the first light;
- a fingerboard having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of wells configured to receive the plurality of light elements and extending from the bottom surface, wherein illumination produced by the plurality of light elements is visible through the fingerboard and the plurality of light elements are substantially concealed when un-illuminated;
- and
- a substrate adapted to permanently bond to the fingerboard, the light-system being disposed on the substrate, wherein the plurality of light elements are positioned on the substrate to be received by the plurality of wells of the fingerboard;
- wherein the substrate comprises a circuit board, the circuit board having channels for receiving an adhesive to permanently bond the substrate to the bottom side of the fingerboard, wherein the substrate includes a plurality of electrical lands sized and shaped to be positioned at least partly within the plurality of wells of the fingerboard, and wherein each electrical land is located beneath a light element.
5 more elements
A stringed instrument, comprising:
- a body;
- and a neck assembly coupled to the body, wherein the neck assembly has a longitudinal axis and includes:
- a circuit board including a plurality of light elements that emit illumination when energized to indicate a musical chord pattern, wherein the circuit board includes a width that varies along the longitudinal axis and each of the plurality of light elements is configured to produce a first light and a second light different to the first light;
- and
- a fingerboard having a top surface, a bottom surface having a width that varies along the longitudinal axis and is equal to the width of the circuit board, and a plurality of wells configured to receive the plurality of light elements and extending from the bottom surface, wherein illumination produced by the plurality of light elements is visible through the fingerboard and the plurality of light elements are substantially concealed when un-illuminated;
- wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of electrical lands sized and shaped to be positioned at least partly within the plurality of wells of the fingerboard, and wherein each electrical land is located beneath each of said plurality of light elements.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.