US4429608A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stringed musical instrument top
Assignee: Kaman Music Corp
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Filing: 1981-07-20
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Granted: 1984-02-07
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Expires: 2001-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A molded plastic guitar top has a sounding board with a circular sound hole located between its upper and lower ends. A plurality of integral circular reinforcing ribs concentrically arranged relative to the sound hole, project from the inner surface of the sounding board. Integral rectilinear ribs which intersect the circular ribs extend generally longitudinally of the guitar top and diverge from the circular ribs and relative to each other in the direction of the lower end of the guitar top. An integral liner projects from the inner surface of the sounding board and extends generally along the outer marginal portion of the sounding board. The guitar top is molded from thermosetting plastic sheet molding compound which comprises 40% glass and 60% resin. The sounding board portion of the top essentially comprises a mat of random glass fibers ranging in length from three inches to two feet. The reinforcing ribs or braces are formed by random chopped glass fibers not greater than one-half inch in length. The guitar top may include an integral bridge which projects from the outer surface of the sounding board and which comprises random chopped glass fibers approximately one inch in length.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles H. Kaman
- 👤 II C. William Kaman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:25
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D3/00; G10D3/22; G10D3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A stringed musical instrument top comprising a single piece of plastic material defining a relatively thin sounding board having a sound hole therethrough between its upper and lower ends, a plurality of integral reinforcing ribs projecting from the inner surface of said sounding board, said reinforcing ribs including a plurality of annular ribs surrounding said sound opening and a plurality of rectilinear ribs extending longitudinally of said sounding board between said sound hole and said lower end, each of said rectilinear ribs intersecting at least one of said annular ribs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A stringed musical instrument top comprising a single piece of plastic material defining a relatively thin sounding board having a sound hole therethrough between its upper and lower ends, a plurality of integral reinforcing ribs projecting from the inner surface of said sounding board, said reinforcing ribs including a plurality of annular ribs surrounding said sound opening and a plurality of rectilinear ribs extending longitudinally of said sounding board between said sound hole and said lower end, each of said rectilinear ribs intersecting at least one of said annular ribs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said rectilinear reinforcing ribs intersects each of said annular ribs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said annular ribs are characterized as concentric circular ribs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sound hole comprises a circular sound hole and said circular ribs are concentric with said sound hole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said rectilinear ribs diverge relative to each other from said annular ribs and in the direction of said lower end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said top includes an integral liner projecting from said inner surface and extending along the outer marginal edge portion of said sounding board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2 including an integral bridge projecting from the outer surface of said sounding board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in claim 7 wherein said bridge extends transversely of said sounding board between said sound hole and said lower end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said plastic material comprises a composite material formed of approximately 60% resin and 40% glass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in claim 9 wherein said glass is further characterized as random glass fibers and at least 10% of said fibers are not greater than one-half inch in length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in claim 10 wherein the majority of the remaining glass fibers are greater than 3 inches in length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said plastic material comprises a composite material including resin and glass fibers and wherein said sounding board comprises a mat of random glass fibers the majority of which are greater than three inches in length and said reinforcing ribs comprise random glass fibers the majority of which are not greater than one-half inch in length.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in claim 12 wherein said composite material comprises approximately 60% resin and 40% glass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in claim 13 wherein said composite material has a density greater than 1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in claim 14 wherein said density is 1.22.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
A stringed musical instrument top comprising a single piece of plastic material defining a relatively thin sounding board having a sound hole therethrough between its upper and lower ends, said top having a plurality of integral reinforcing ribs projecting from the inner surface of said sounding board, said reinforcing ribs including a plurality of circular ribs surrounding said sound opening and disposed in spaced relation to the periphery of said sound opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
A stringed musical instrument top comprising a single piece of plastic material defining a relatively thin sounding board having a sound hole therethrough between its upper and lower ends, said top having a plurality of integral reinforcing ribs projecting from the inner surface of said sounding board, said reinforcing ribs including a plurality of circular ribs surrounding said sound opening and disposed in spaced relation to the periphery of said sound opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A stringed musical instrument top as set forth in claim 16 wherein said circular ribs are further characterized as concentric circular ribs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-02-06 | 1987-08-08 | 1988-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-06 | 1991-08-08 | 1992-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-06 | 1995-08-08 | 1996-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |