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US4969381A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Composite-materials acoustic stringed musical instrument

Assignee: KUAU Tech Ltd
•
Filing: 1989-08-11
•
Granted: 1990-11-13
•
Expires: 2009-08-11
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Abstract

Abstract A soundboard for an acoustic guitar is made of a composite-materials plate having an area density matching that of wooden soundboards while having a bulk density exceeding the bulk density of wooden soundboards. The soundboard is preferably made of a lay-up of woven polymer (preferably aramid) fabric and a layer of unidirectional graphite fibers followed by a layer of decorative fabric (e.g., silk), all embedded in a resin matrix. The side and back are made of at least one layer of woven fabric embedded in a resin matrix. The neck is made of a foam plastic core preferably covered with a woven fabric layer and a decorative fabric layer embedded in a resin matrix. The head is preferably cast of fiber-filled thermoplastic covered with a fabric layer embedded in a resin matrix. The head and neck are channelled to receive a composite-materials reinforcing rod, a fret board of similar material being bonded thereto.

Inventors

  • 👤 John A. Decker, Jr.
  • 👤 Linda M. Decker
  • 👤 Christopher J. Halford

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 16:32
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D3/00; G10D3/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 57 words
A composite-materials soundboard for an acoustic stringed instrument, comprising a resin matrix lay-up incorporating cross-woven threads each made up of multiple continuous polymer filaments of an acoustically damping material and substantially coplanar fibers extending substantially parallel to the strings of the instrument, said fibers being made of a material providing low acoustic dampening compared to said filaments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 57 words
A composite-materials soundboard for an acoustic stringed instrument, comprising a resin matrix lay-up incorporating cross-woven threads each made up of multiple continuous polymer filaments of an acoustically damping material and substantially coplanar fibers extending substantially parallel to the strings of the instrument, said fibers being made of a material providing low acoustic dampening compared to said filaments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The soundboard of claim 1, wherein said filaments are made of aramid fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 12 words
The soundboard of claim 2, wherein said fibers are made of graphite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The soundboard of claim 3, wherein said lay-up further incorporates a layer of decorative fabric on the visible exterior side.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 11 words
The soundboard of claim 4, wherein said decorative fabric is silk.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The soundboard of claim 4, wherein said graphite fibers and aramid filaments are provided in separate layers behind said decorative fabric layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 11 words
The soundboard of claim 6, wherein said decorative fabric is silk.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
The soundboard of claim 7, wherein said lay-up further incorporates a layer of cotton woven fabric between the silk layer and the unidirectional graphite layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
The soundboard of claim 4, wherein said decorative fabric has a uniform color selected to match the color of corresponding traditional soundboards for the same type of stringed instrument.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 17 words
The soundboard of claim 1, wherein said graphite fibers and aramid filaments are provided in separate layers.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-11-12 1994-05-14 1994-11-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-11-12 1998-05-14 1998-11-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-11-12 2002-05-14 2002-11-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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