US3666874A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tuning fork for electrically amplified string instruments
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-27
•
Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1991-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A tuning fork is mounted inside the body of an electric guitar or the like electric string instrument, adjacent a microphone thereof and manual means are provided to set the tuning fork in vibration. The sound emitted thereby is amplified by the sound amplifying system of the musical instrument, so as to be clearly audible by the musician, even when exposed to noise or sounds of other instruments in an orchestra or other music ensemble. The tuning of the instrument is therefore much facilitated. The sound emitted by the tuning fork can be easily adjusted as to its volume. The tuning fork can be stopped from vibrating. The assembly can be mounted in any existing type of electric guitars, mandolins, banjos, violins and the like electronically sound amplified string instruments having a microphone underneath the strings and mounted in the sound board.
Inventors
- 👤 Clement Labbe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:48
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10G; G10G7/00; G10G7/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
In combination with a string instrument having a body with a sound board, strings extending over said sound board and an electronic sound amplifying system including a microphone mounted in said sound board and extending through the same, a tuning device for said musical instrument comprising a support located under said sound board, means to secure said support to said sound board, a tuning fork supported by said support in a position adjacent said microphone, and manually operated means accessible at the exterior of said instrument to cause vibration of said tuning fork producing a tuning sound picked up by the microphone and amplified by the sound amplifying system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
In combination with a string instrument having a body with a sound board, strings extending over said sound board and an electronic sound amplifying system including a microphone mounted in said sound board and extending through the same, a tuning device for said musical instrument comprising a support located under said sound board, means to secure said support to said sound board, a tuning fork supported by said support in a position adjacent said microphone, and manually operated means accessible at the exterior of said instrument to cause vibration of said tuning fork producing a tuning sound picked up by the microphone and amplified by the sound amplifying system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said tuning fork is pivotally carried by said support for swinging movement across said microphone in a plane substantially parallel to said sound board, said means to produce vibration of said tuning fork including a bar secured to said support and extending along said tuning fork and having a portiOn in the path of the swinging movement of said tuning fork and string means attached to said tuning fork to swing said tuning fork about its pivot axis, whereby the latter will strike said striker bar portions to vibrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein said string means exert, when pulled, swinging movement of said tuning fork in a direction away from said striker bar abutting portion and further including spring means attached to said tuning fork and to said support and swinging said tuning fork towards said striker bar portion upon release of said string means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3, further including resilient compressible means carried by said support in the path of the tuning fork and compressed by said tuning fork when the same swings towards said striker bar portion under action of said spring means, to thereby return said tuning fork to a position spaced from said striker bar portion, against the action of said spring means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 4, further including adjustment means to vary the position of said support towards and away from said sound board, so as to vary the spacing between said tuning fork and said microphone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said adjustment means include a screw extending through said sound board and threaded within said support, whereby rotation of said screw moves said support towards or away from said sound board, said screw further constituting said means to secure said support to said sound board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of claim 6, further including spring-loaded pressure blocks carried by said support and frictionally engaging said sound board and disposed on each side of said screw to exert a resilient force on said support tending to move the same away from said sound board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 7, further including means to adjust the angular relationship of said striker bar with said support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination of claim 4, further including cushion means carried by said instrument and located in the path of the swinging movement of the tuning fork in a direction away from said striker bar portion to limit said tuning fork swinging movement and also to stop vibration of said tuning fork when the latter is caused to rest on said cushion means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said instrument has spaced parallel longitudinally extending reinforcing bars applied to the inside face of said sound board, said support, tuning fork and striker bar disposed between said reinforcing bars, one of said reinforcing bars carrying said cushion means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 7, wherein said string means include a string attached at one end to said tuning fork, a lever pivotally mounted on said instrument having a portion accessible externally of said instrument and the other end extending within said instrument, the other end of said string being attached to said lever other end.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |