US 9,792,886 B2Granted

String tensioner for stringed instrument

OwnerCosmos Lylesinventor

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Abstract

A string tensioner module for a stringed musical instrument is configured to apply a constant or near-constant tension to the musical strings of the instrument. The module is divided into a plurality of string tensioners, one string tensioner for each musical string. Each string tensioner employs a primary spring that apply the primary force coaxial with the string. Each string tensioner also employs a secondary spring that applies a secondary force in a direction crossing the axis of the string, and thus applying an axial force component that changes as the angle of the secondary spring changes. The primary and secondary springs are selected so that the change in the axial force component of the secondary spring as the string changes in length approximates the change in force applied by the primary spring so that the axial force applied to the string remains generally constant even as the string changes in length.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A string holder for a stringed musical instrument, comprising:

a plurality of primary springs, each primary spring attached to a longitudinally movable string connector so as to apply a primary spring force directed along an axis to the string connector, the primary spring force applied to the string connector changing in accordance with a primary spring rate function as the string connector moves relative to the primary spring along the axis;
a plurality of musical strings, each of the musical strings being attached to a corresponding string connector and extending along the axis so that a net axial force applied to the string connector is applied to the musical string;
and
a secondary spring structure attached to the string connector of each of the plurality of primary springs so as to apply a plurality of secondary spring forces, one of the plurality of secondary spring forces being applied to each of the string connectors, each of the secondary spring forces being directed across the axis of the corresponding string connector and having an axial component that is applied to the corresponding string connector in a direction along the corresponding axis.

1 more element

A constant tension device, comprising:

a first carrier and a second carrier, each of the first and second carriers configured to be movable along a first or a second axis, respectively;
a first wire or string attached to the first carrier and extending along the first axis so that an axial force applied to the first carrier is communicated to the first wire or string;
a second wire or string attached to the second carrier and extending along the second axis so that an axial force applied to the second carrier is communicated to the second wire or string;
a first target tension defined as a desired tension for the first wire or string;
a second target tension defined as a desired tension for the second wire or string;
and
a first spring having a first end attached to the first carrier and a second end attached to a first spring holder so that the first spring applies a first spring force to the first carrier along an axis of the first wire or string;
wherein the first spring holder engages the first spring along a portion of its length at and adjacent the second end of the first spring, the portion of the first spring engaged by the first spring holder being constrained from expanding by the first spring holder;
a second spring having a first end attached to the second carrier and a second end attached to a second spring holder so that the second spring applies a second spring force to the second carrier along an axis of the second wire or string;
wherein the second spring holder engages the second spring along a portion of its length at and adjacent the second end of the second spring, the portion of the second spring engaged by the second spring holder being constrained from expanding by the second spring holder;
wherein each of the first and second spring holders is configured to selectively engage a greater or lesser portion of the length of the associated first or second spring so as to vary the spring rate of the respective first or second spring;
and
wherein the first spring holder engages the first spring along a first length of the first spring and the second spring holder engages the second spring along a second length of the second spring, and the first length is greater than the second length so that the spring rate of the first spring is greater than the spring rate of the second spring.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/004,886Filed 22 Jan 2016 · us provisional application
Priority: 22 Jan 2015
Published: US 2016/0217772 A128 Jul 2016
Granted: 17 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G10D 1/00
General design of stringed musical instruments
G10D 1/085
Guitars: mechanical design of electric guitars
G10D 3/12
Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars: anchoring devices for strings, e.g. tail pieces or hitchpins
G10D
Stringed musical instruments