EP0132473A1 - Médiateur pour instrument à cordes - Google Patents

Médiateur pour instrument à cordes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0132473A1
EP0132473A1 EP83401511A EP83401511A EP0132473A1 EP 0132473 A1 EP0132473 A1 EP 0132473A1 EP 83401511 A EP83401511 A EP 83401511A EP 83401511 A EP83401511 A EP 83401511A EP 0132473 A1 EP0132473 A1 EP 0132473A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
copper alloy
musical instrument
copper
set forth
pick
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP83401511A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Perry Alfred Mills
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to US06/345,598 priority Critical patent/US4395932A/en
Priority to AU16831/83A priority patent/AU1683183A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to EP83401511A priority patent/EP0132473A1/fr
Priority to ES524596A priority patent/ES8405541A1/es
Publication of EP0132473A1 publication Critical patent/EP0132473A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • 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
    • G10D3/00—Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars
    • G10D3/16—Bows; Guides for bows; Plectra or similar playing means
    • G10D3/173—Plectra or similar accessories for playing; Plectrum holders

Definitions

  • This invention relates to stringed instruments and particularly to picks therefor as used by guitarists and the like.
  • the musician chooses a pick according to the strings used on the instrument and according to his style and technique of playing.
  • conventional picks for stringed instruments are made in various thicknesses and of different materials such as wood, bone, stone, plastic and metals.
  • the state of the art has preferred plastic picks, as they simulate finger plucking and are compatible with the softer instrument strings of gut.
  • metal picks used with metal strings and heretofore made of steel and especially stainless-steels have not been altogether satisfactory, as they lack the necessary degree of resilience; and plastic picks also lack instant memory required for accurate plucking. Therefore, and in lieu of a mere substitution of material, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument pick of a commercially available material having optimum physical properties as related to thickness and resilience for increased accuracy in plucking..
  • Plucking accuracy can be greatly increased when the instrumentalist knows exactly where the picking edge is.
  • Discrepancy in picking edge position occurs with ordinary prior art picks made of materials which do not have an instant memory, since they allow a substantial time lag before straightening to their original condition. In some instances the lag is thirty seconds or more; and in some instances straightening is precluded by a permanent deformation.
  • the force applied to picks in plucking the instrument strings is very often most severe with the picking edge deflected 6.40 mm more or less. Since the time interval between plucked notes is most often and consistantly a fraction of a second, a permanently or temporarily displaced positioning of the picking edge is most detrimental to instrumental execution and therefore timing and playing accuracy is adversely affected.
  • the main object of the present invention is to provide a new pick for stringed instruments, such as guitars, which allows an increased accuracy in plucking.
  • stringed instruments such as guitars
  • the range of thickness of prior art stringed instrument picks and that of plastic picks which are most widely used is 0.43 mm to 0.82 mm.
  • the range of thickness of the picks of the present invention is 0.125 mm to 0.25 mm.
  • the pick of the present invention is supplied in incremental thicknesses separated by 0.025 mm respectively.
  • the planar configuration of the instant pick remains conventional according to acceptable standards, and the selected thickness provides the required spring and/or degree of resiliency desired.
  • a feature is the compatability of Beryllium Copper brought into frictional contact with metal instrument strings, and particularly against the Nickel-Steel wrappings of guitar strings; wear being minimized thereby.
  • a metal pick of Beryllium Copper alloy is provided within a range of thicknesses less than conventional picks of the prior art. It is increased accuracy of playing which is an object of this invention, made possible by the refinement or thinness of the picking edge and by the physical properties of the Beryllium Copper which establishes a spring of such resilience that it returns instantly to a predictable position. As will be shown, the time factor of return to a predictable condition and positioning of the picking edge is significantly critical. As to the refinement of the picking edge, the thickest of the instant picks is 58% of the thickness of the thinnest of plastic picks; and the thinnest of the instant picks is 16% of the thickness of thickest of plastic picks. It is the thinness of the picking edge coupled with the high degree of resiliency that lends great utility to this new pick of durable and corrosion resistant spring material.
  • Fig. 1 is a front view of a stringed instrument pick of typical configuration.
  • Fig. 2 is an edge view of the pick and taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged edge view of the pick showing an initial deflection "A" and subsequent measured deformations "B” and “C", as will be described.
  • the pick P is for the playing of stringed instruments and especially guitars with metal strings of steel wrapped with Nickel-Steel wire.
  • the pick P is of the usual configuration, comprised of a body B of generally thin triangular plate with convexly curved top and side edges 10 and 11, and well rounded corners 12, 13 and 14. It is the lowermost corner 14 that is the picking edge.
  • the plate or body is approximately 25 mm across the top edge 10, and 30 mm in height to the picking edge 14.
  • the upper portion of the flat body thereof is gripped between the thumb and index finger or fingers, thereby exposing the lower picking portion and picking edge 14.
  • Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown the aforesaid initial deflection "A” and subsequent deformations "B” and “C” that are found to remain in the body B after measured time intervals of one second and fifteen seconds respectively, for example. It is to be observed that the said deflection and subsequent deformations are displacements from the initial flat planar condition of the pick body, all of which emanate from a common bend line x established by the grip and extending transversely of said pick body.
  • the pick P is made of a spring copper alloy and preferably of Beryllium Copper (Be-Cu) whose Beryllium content is greater than one per cent and characterized by its high strength, hardness and resiliency, as well as being corrosion resistant.
  • Be-Cu Beryllium Copper
  • a feature of this spring material is that its use enables the pick body to be 16% to 58% of the thickness of plastic picks and the like.
  • a most satisfactory range of pick thickness has been determined to be 0.125 mm to 0.25 mm, utilizing sheet or strip Beryllium Copper alloy comprised of 1.80% to 2.05% Be, .18% to .30% Co (Cobalt) and the balance Cu; with an H temper having a tensile strength of 700 to 840 MPa, 2% to 7% elongation in 51 mm, and a Rockwell hardness of B-96 to 102.
  • a substitute copper alloy is wrought Sheet Brass known commercially as Composition No.
  • Stainless Steel or Chromium Nickel Austenitic Steels are not capable of heat treatment, and although capable of attaining tensile strengths of 595 to 875 MPa, they are ductile and the resiliency thereof is substantially inferior to that of Beryllium Copper spring material.
  • the most widely used austenitic steel is "SAE 30302", and such material is not compatible with the similar wrapping of Stainless, Nickel Steel, wire on the instrument strings, as wear is induced thereby.
  • the Beryllium Copper picks of the present invention are 16% to 58% the thickness of conventional Nylon plastic picks, and accordingly the potential degree of accuracy in plucking is commensurately improved. It will also be observed that the ranges of thickness are distinct and not overlapping, in that prior art picks are within the thicker range of 0.43 mm to 0.82 mm, and the same is true of prior art metal picks, whereas the spring picks of the present invention are within the thinness range of 0.13 mm to 0.25 mm.
  • the performance deflection required within the 0.43 - 0.82 thickness range of said Nylon plastic picks is substantially the same as the performance deflection required within the 0.13 - 0.25 thickness range of said Beryllium Copper picks, and a severe performance deflection is in each instance approximately 6.40 mm. Accordingly, a 6.40 mm initial deflection is used in the aforementioned tests. It will be observed that the least 0.05 mm deformation, after 15 seconds, of the Nylon plastic pick is 200% that of the greatest 0.0025 mm deformation after one second of the Beryllium Copper pick.
  • the average 0.413 mm deformation of the three Nylon plastic picks after one second, far exceeds that of the average 0.015 mm deformation of the six Beryllium Copper picks, within the performance range of thicknesses.
  • the average 0.087 mm deformation of the three Nylon plastic picks after fifteen seconds, is also far greater than that of the average 0.005 mm deformation of the six Beryllium Copper picks, within the performance range of thicknesses.
  • the Beryllium Copper pick deformation remains significantly great, the Beryllium Copper pick deformation is significantly small and negligable; and is not measurable as a practical matter in heavier or thicker Beryllium Copper picks.
  • the Beryllium Copper pick of the present invention is entirely predictable and a decided improvement over prior art picks which are cumbersome and lacking in resilience and without complete and instant memory.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Stringed Musical Instruments (AREA)

Abstract

A stringed instrument pick of highly resilient spring material and preferably of a Beryllium Copper alloy and the like, whereby thickness is reduced to a distinct range of thinness conducive to accuracy in performance, and with initial deflections followed by instantaneous return to a planar condition without permanent deformation, for the predictable positioning of the picking edge within the fractional second time frame of plucking.
EP83401511A 1982-02-04 1983-07-22 Médiateur pour instrument à cordes Withdrawn EP0132473A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/345,598 US4395932A (en) 1982-02-04 1982-02-04 Stringed instrument pick
AU16831/83A AU1683183A (en) 1982-02-04 1983-07-14 Stringed instrument pick
EP83401511A EP0132473A1 (fr) 1982-02-04 1983-07-22 Médiateur pour instrument à cordes
ES524596A ES8405541A1 (es) 1982-02-04 1983-07-29 Un dispositivo de pua para puntear cuerdas de instrumentos musicales.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/345,598 US4395932A (en) 1982-02-04 1982-02-04 Stringed instrument pick
AU16831/83A AU1683183A (en) 1982-02-04 1983-07-14 Stringed instrument pick
EP83401511A EP0132473A1 (fr) 1982-02-04 1983-07-22 Médiateur pour instrument à cordes
ES524596A ES8405541A1 (es) 1982-02-04 1983-07-29 Un dispositivo de pua para puntear cuerdas de instrumentos musicales.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0132473A1 true EP0132473A1 (fr) 1985-02-13

Family

ID=27422593

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP83401511A Withdrawn EP0132473A1 (fr) 1982-02-04 1983-07-22 Médiateur pour instrument à cordes

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4395932A (fr)
EP (1) EP0132473A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU1683183A (fr)
ES (1) ES8405541A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012018895A2 (fr) * 2010-08-03 2012-02-09 Sheila Mcbride Dispositif multifonctions permettant de manipuler des cordes sur un instrument à cordes

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4651614A (en) * 1984-12-07 1987-03-24 Cavallo Robert S Guitar pick
US20080163737A1 (en) * 2007-01-09 2008-07-10 Adam Grant Guitar pick
US9135897B2 (en) * 2013-08-23 2015-09-15 Iain Grant Kirk McDonald Magnetic guitar pick ring and material for use therewith
MX2017002920A (es) 2014-09-08 2017-10-11 Johnson & Son Inc S C Canastas para inodoro y artículos de limpieza, y método de fabricación de tales canastas y artículos.
USD850578S1 (en) 2017-01-31 2019-06-04 S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Toilet rimblock
USD841120S1 (en) * 2017-01-31 2019-02-19 S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Toilet rim-block
USD931829S1 (en) * 2018-12-21 2021-09-28 Sony Corporation Speaker box
US20220230606A1 (en) * 2019-05-16 2022-07-21 Matthew Schiebold Non-Amorphous Musical Instrument Components
USD914131S1 (en) 2019-06-07 2021-03-23 S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Toilet rim-block holder
USD912761S1 (en) 2019-06-07 2021-03-09 S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Toilet rim-block
USD923139S1 (en) 2019-06-07 2021-06-22 S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Set of toilet rim-blocks
JP1701655S (fr) * 2021-05-25 2021-12-06
JP1701663S (fr) 2021-06-09 2021-12-06

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB219184A (en) * 1923-08-03 1924-07-24 George Edward Briggs A plectrum for stringed musical instruments
US1787136A (en) * 1928-07-30 1930-12-30 George D Beauchamp Pick for stringed musical instruments
US2045571A (en) * 1934-05-15 1936-06-30 Dopyera Rudolph Pick for stringed musical instruments
US2449890A (en) * 1945-10-11 1948-09-21 Robert C Garlick Pick for stringed instruments
US2961912A (en) * 1958-06-17 1960-11-29 Edward F Meola Pick for metallic stringed instruments

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3739681A (en) * 1972-11-17 1973-06-19 J Dunlop Finger pick for stringed musical instruments
US4235144A (en) * 1979-06-06 1980-11-25 Tel-Ray Electronics Manufacturing Co., Inc. Means for controlling special musical effects

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB219184A (en) * 1923-08-03 1924-07-24 George Edward Briggs A plectrum for stringed musical instruments
US1787136A (en) * 1928-07-30 1930-12-30 George D Beauchamp Pick for stringed musical instruments
US2045571A (en) * 1934-05-15 1936-06-30 Dopyera Rudolph Pick for stringed musical instruments
US2449890A (en) * 1945-10-11 1948-09-21 Robert C Garlick Pick for stringed instruments
US2961912A (en) * 1958-06-17 1960-11-29 Edward F Meola Pick for metallic stringed instruments

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012018895A2 (fr) * 2010-08-03 2012-02-09 Sheila Mcbride Dispositif multifonctions permettant de manipuler des cordes sur un instrument à cordes
WO2012018895A3 (fr) * 2010-08-03 2012-05-03 Sheila Mcbride Dispositif multifonctions permettant de manipuler des cordes sur un instrument à cordes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1683183A (en) 1985-01-17
ES524596A0 (es) 1984-06-01
US4395932A (en) 1983-08-02
ES8405541A1 (es) 1984-06-01

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

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17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19841123

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19860207

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Effective date: 19860618