# US 9,520,108 B1 · Internal bracing for a guitar > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,108 B1 - Document ID: US9520108B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/887,422 - Filed: 2015-10-20 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-20 - Assignees: Taylor-Listug, Inc. - Applicants: Taylor-Listug, Inc. - Inventors: Andrew Taylor Powers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520108B1 ## CPC - G10D 1/08: Guitars - G10D 3/02: Resonating means, horns or diaphragms - 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 guitar top includes a sound hole, a neck end that is configured for attachment to a guitar neck with a longitudinal axis, a heel end, a transverse axis normal to the longitudinal axis, and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the guitar top includes a pair of longitudinal braces that are attached to the surface. The pair of longitudinal braces extend primarily along the longitudinal axis from the heel end toward the neck end and terminate at a point beyond the sound hole toward the neck end. Each of the longitudinal braces is positioned on an opposing side of the sound hole such that a distance between the longitudinal braces exceeds the diameter of the sound hole. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guitar top comprising: a sound hole; a neck end configured to attach to a guitar neck having a longitudinal axis; a heel end; and a transverse axis normal to the longitudinal axis; wherein a bottom surface of the guitar top includes a pair of longitudinal braces attached to the surface, the pair of longitudinal braces extending primarily along the longitudinal axis from the heel end toward the neck end and terminating at a point beyond the sound hole toward the neck end, wherein each of the pair of longitudinal braces is positioned on an opposing side of the sound hole such that a distance between the longitudinal braces exceeds the diameter of the sound hole, and wherein the longitudinal braces are oriented such that the distance between the pair of longitudinal braces is greater toward the neck end than the heel end; and one or more fan braces extending primarily along the transverse axis, wherein at least one of the one or more fan braces terminates at one of the pair of longitudinal braces. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guitar top of claim 1 wherein each of the pair of longitudinal braces is a single integral segment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The guitar top of claim 1 having a bridge plate affixed to the bottom surface of the guitar top, wherein each of the pair of longitudinal braces contacts the bridge plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The guitar top of claim 1 wherein the pair of longitudinal braces comprises a first longitudinal brace and a second longitudinal brace and wherein the first and second longitudinal braces intersect and terminate at a reference point of the guitar, wherein the reference point is near the heel end of the guitar top. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The guitar top of claim 4 wherein the reference point is at the heel end of the guitar top. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The guitar top of claim 1 wherein fan braces do not extend between the pair of longitudinal braces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The guitar top of claim 1 wherein one or more fan braces are positioned between the pair of longitudinal braces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The guitar top of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more fan braces is positioned at an angle substantially perpendicular to one of the pair of longitudinal braces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The guitar top of claim 1 wherein the pair of longitudinal braces and the one or more fan braces are symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The guitar top of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more fan braces extend from one of the pair of longitudinal braces to an edge of the bottom surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The guitar top of claim 9 wherein one or more fan braces comprise a pair of fan braces. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The guitar top of claim 11 comprising two or more pairs of fan braces. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The guitar top of claim 1 wherein the guitar top is assembled with a body and a neck to form a guitar, wherein the guitar comprises an electronic component. ### Claim 14 A guitar comprising: a neck having a longitudinal axis; and a body, the body comprising: a top, the top comprising: a sound hole; a neck end configured to attach to the neck; a heel end; and a transverse axis normal to the longitudinal axis; wherein a bottom surface of the guitar top includes a pair of longitudinal braces attached to the surface, the pair of longitudinal braces extending primarily along the longitudinal axis from the heel end toward the neck end and terminating at a point beyond the sound hole toward the neck end, wherein each of the pair of longitudinal braces is positioned on an opposing side of the sound hole such that a distance between the longitudinal braces exceeds the diameter of the sound hole, and wherein the longitudinal braces are oriented such that the distance between the pair of longitudinal braces is greater toward the neck end than the heel end; and one or more fan braces extending primarily along the transverse axis, wherein at least one of the one or more fan braces terminates at one of the pair of longitudinal braces. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The guitar of claim 14 wherein each of the pair of longitudinal braces is a single integral segment. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The guitar of claim 14 having a bridge plate affixed to the bottom surface of the guitar top, wherein each of the pair of longitudinal braces contacts the bridge plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The guitar of claim 14 wherein the pair of longitudinal braces comprises a first longitudinal brace and a second longitudinal brace and wherein the first and second longitudinal braces intersect and terminate at a reference point of the guitar, wherein the reference point is near the heel end of the guitar top. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The guitar of claim 17 wherein the reference point is at the heel end of the guitar top. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The guitar of claim 14 wherein fan braces do not extend between the pair of longitudinal braces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The guitar of claim 14 wherein one or more fan braces are positioned between the pair of longitudinal braces. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The guitar of claim 14 wherein each of the one or more fan braces is positioned at an angle substantially perpendicular to one of the pair of longitudinal braces. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The guitar of claim 14 wherein the pair of longitudinal braces and the one or more fan braces are symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The guitar top of claim 14 wherein each of the one or more fan braces extend from one of the pair of longitudinal braces to an edge of the bottom surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The guitar of claim 22 wherein one or more fan braces comprise a pair of fan braces. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The guitar of claim 24 comprising two or more pairs of fan braces.