FR2994760A1 - Electric guitar for use in ready to mount assembly to produce e.g. jazz sounds, has interchangeable microphone device comprising rigid protection cap attached to plate to maintain microphone in position and form single-piece assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The guitar (1) has a ramp shaped slide (2) integrated in a body (10). An interchangeable microphone device (3) is removably placed in an internal space (200) of the slide. The device has a support plate (30) with electric contacts (302) on its lower face. A microphone (31) is positioned on an upper face of the plate and connected to the contacts by a connection unit. The device has a rigid protection cap (32) in which the microphone and the connection unit are placed. The cap is attached to the plate to maintain the microphone in position and form a single-piece assembly in space.

Description

ELECTRIC GUITAR EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERCHANGEABLE MICRO DEVICE Description Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electric guitar equipped with an interchangeable guitar device. It also relates to the micro interchangeable device as such. The invention further relates to a kit ready to mount, or Kit, comprising an electric guitar and several interchangeable microphone devices.

The invention relates to the technical field of accessories for electric guitars, and more particularly that of microphones. State of the art An electric guitar generally has a body on which the strings are mounted, at least one microphone being positioned under the strings. The body of the guitar incorporates an electronic circuit for controlling and / or adjusting the sound and / or the tone of the sounds emitted by the strings. Each electric guitar has a well defined sound according to its genre and the type of microphones that equips it. His sound is thus frozen. To overcome this drawback, there are devices interchangeable microphones allowing guitarists to quickly and easily change the pickups, to obtain different sounds on the same guitar: bass, treble, jazz, rock, blues, pop, funk, etc. Such devices are described, for example, in US patent documents 2009/0183626 (SALEHI), US 6.800.800 (GIORDANO) or DE 298.03.615 (HIERGEIST).

More particularly, patent document FR 2.664.415 (BETticare) discloses an interchangeable microphone device in which the microphone is fixed on a support plate. The set is removably mounted in the body of the guitar. Bolts provide the electrical relays of the microphone by wires. This montage is functional but impractical. Indeed, but it is possible to quickly replace the microphone, for example during a concert, even if it is necessary that the guitarist unscrews the bolts, then removes the microphone initially in place, then reinstalls the new microphone and revises the bolts by connecting the wires.

The patent document FR 2.616.573 (BETticare) describes another generation of interchangeable microphone device. The microphone is fixed on the upper face of a support plate. The latter comprises, on its underside, contact pads ensuring the electrical relays of the microphone by conductive son. Fixing the microphone on the support plate is provided by welding points of the conductive son on the contact pads. The assembly is housed in a slideway integrated into the body of the guitar, said slide being ramp-shaped and passing under the ropes. A printed circuit board connected to the electronic circuit of the guitar is integrated into the body of said guitar. When the assembly is housed in the slideway, contact springs associated with the printed circuit, provide electrical contact with the pads of the support plate. This configuration allows you to quickly replace the microphone. Indeed, it is sufficient that the guitarist removes the assembly "micro - support plate" initially in place, and reinstalls a new set, without any other form of electrical connection. However, the "micro-support plate" assembly is vulnerable because the conductor wires connecting the microphone to the contact pads are relatively thin and fragile. And these can be torn off or severed when handling the "micro-plate support" assembly. Faced with this state of affairs, the main objective of the invention is to reduce the risk of damage to the interchangeable microphone device described in the patent document FR 2,616,573 mentioned above. Another object of the invention is to obtain an interchangeable microphone device which is reliable and robust. The invention further aims to provide a micro interchangeable device of simple design and inexpensive. Disclosure of the invention.

The solution proposed by the invention is an electric guitar comprising: a body on which ropes are mounted, said body incorporating an electronic circuit for controlling and / or adjusting the tone and / or the tone of the sounds emitted by said ropes, - a slideway integrated into the body, said slide being in the form of a ramp, defining an internal space and passing under the ropes, said slideway being associated with means of connection to the electronic circuit, an interchangeable microphone device being put in place removably in the internal space of the slide, retaining means for holding said device in position in said internal space, said device comprising: a support plate comprising an upper face and a lower face, electrical contacts being arranged on said lower face, said contacts being arranged so that in the operating position of the it micro device, they cooperate by touch with the connection means associated with the slide and provide an electrical connection between the microphone and the electronic circuit, o at least one microphone positioned on the upper face of the support plate, said microphone being connected to the electrical contacts of said plate by connection means. This guitar is remarkable in that the interchangeable microphone device further comprises a rigid protective cover inside which are housed the microphone and the connection means to the electrical contacts of the support plate, said cover being secured to said plate of in such a way as to keep said micro-position in position and form a manipulable monobloc assembly that can be housed in the internal space of said slideway.

The microphone is now sandwiched between the cover and the support plate. This provides a compact package that can be easily manipulated. In addition, the connection means are housed inside the cover and thus protected. When handling the interchangeable microphone device, the risks of deterioration of the electrical connections are in fact greatly reduced. Other advantageous technical features of the guitar object of the invention are listed below, these different characteristics can be considered alone or in combination, independently of the remarkable technical characteristics defined above: - The cover preferably comprises a horizontal top wall configured so that when the microphone device is in its operating position, completely close the internal space of the slide and come in the same plane as the body of said guitar. - The cover may comprise a housing in which are positioned the microphone and the support plate. - The upper face of the support plate advantageously comprises connecting elements connected to the electrical contacts, said connecting elements cooperating with the electrical connections of the microphone to provide an electrical connection between said microphone and said electrical contacts. These connection elements of the support plate are preferably distributed on the upper face of said plate so as to cooperate with the electrical connections of several microphone models. - The electrical connection elements of the support plate may consist of solder points opening on each side of said plate. These welding points preferably have an oblong shape. Another aspect relates to an interchangeable microphone device for an electric guitar, comprising: a support plate comprising an upper face and a lower face, electrical contacts being arranged on said lower face, said contacts being intended to cooperate, by touching, with means connecting to the electronic circuit of said guitar, - at least one microphone positioned on the upper face of the support plate, said microphone being connected to the electrical contacts of said plate by connection means, - a rigid protective cover in which are housed the microphone and the connection means to the electrical contacts of the support plate, said cover being secured to said plate so as to maintain said micro position and form a monobloc manipulable assembly. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a set ready to assemble comprising: - an electric guitar having a body on which ropes are mounted, said body incorporating an electronic circuit for controlling and / or adjusting the tone and / or the tone of the sounds emitted by said ropes, a slideway being integrated into said body, said slideway being in the form of a ramp, defining an internal space and passing under said ropes, said slideway being associated with means of connection to the electronic circuit; interchangeable microphone devices according to the preceding features, each said device being configured to be removably placed in the internal space of said slide.

Each interchangeable microphone device preferably comprises a different microphone model. Description of the figures.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the description of a preferred embodiment which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, made by way of indicative and non-limiting examples and in which: FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an interchangeable microphone device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an interchangeable microphone device according to the invention; FIG. above showing in detail the arrangement, in the body of a guitar, of an interchangeable microphone device according to the invention, - Figures 4A and 4B illustrate the introduction of the interchangeable microphone device of Figure 1 in 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D illustrate a first hood type (Strat Lead closed) respectively: 3/4 view down, 3/4 view up, bottom view and top view, FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D illustrate a second model the Hood (Strat Lead Open) respectively: 3/4 view down, 3/4 view up, bottom view and top view, - 7 - - Figures 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D illustrate a third model of hood (mini humbucker) respectively: 3/4 down view, 3/4 up view, bottom view and top view, - Figures 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D illustrate a fourth hood pattern (Strat Middle) respectively : 3/4 down view, 3/4 up view, bottom view and top view, - Figures 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D illustrate a fifth hood pattern (Strat Rythm) respectively: 3/4 view low, 3/4 up view, bottom view and top view, - Figures 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D illustrate a sixth hood pattern (closed Tele Rhythm) respectively: 3/4 view down, 3 view / 4 top, bottom view and top view, - figures 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D illustrate a seventh hood pattern (open Tele Rhythm) respectively: 3/4 view down, 3/4 view, view from below and from above - Figures 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D illustrate an eighth hood type (Tele Lead Closed) respectively: 3/4 view down, 3/4 view up, bottom view and top view, - Figures 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D illustrate a ninth hood pattern (open Tele Lead) respectively: 3/4 down view, 3/4 up view, bottom view and top view, FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D illustrate a tenth hood model (PAF) respectively: 3/4 down view, 3/4 up view, bottom view and top view, - Figures 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D illustrate an eleventh hood pattern (Humbucker) respectively: 3/4 down view, 3/4 up view, bottom view and top view, - Figures 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D illustrate a slide pattern respectively: 3/4 down view, seen from 3/4 top, bottom view and top view, - Figure 17 shows a model of pre-equipment tray (Strato).

Embodiments of the invention

Referring to Figures 3, 4A and 4B, the electric guitar 1 object of the invention comprises a body 10 on which ropes 11 are mounted. Conventionally, the body 10 integrates an electronic circuit (not shown) whose components (Potentiometers, inverters, filters, etc.) make it possible to control and / or adjust the sound and / or the tone of the sounds emitted by the strings 11. As in the aforementioned patent document FR 2.616.573, a slider 2 is integrated into the body 10 of the guitar 1. It is more particularly housed in a cavity of appropriate shape, made for example by knocking, on the front face of the body 10. This slide 2 is made by plastic molding and is fixed by gluing or screwing in the body 10. It is shaped ramp and passes under the ropes 11 by integrating into the thickness of the body 10 of the guitar 1. In practice, the front end 21 of the slide 2 has a curved shape , concave, and the rear end 22 a flat portion perpendicular to the bottom wall 23. Two parallel side walls 24, 25 disposed perpendicularly to the rear end 22 and to the bottom wall 23 laterally delimit the slide 2. The latter therefore has a space internal 200 open substantially rectangular shape, and inside which is housed the micro device 3. The slide 2 facilitates access under the ropes reading for the establishment of the micro device 3 for its extraction. The introduction of the micro device 3 is in the direction of the front end 21 to the rear end 22. The extraction of said device is carried out in the opposite direction.

A slide pattern is shown in detail in Figures 16A-16D. With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the slide 2 is associated with connection means 26 connected to the electronic circuit of the guitar 1. In practice, these connection means 26 are in the form of FIG. one or more leaf springs attached to the bottom of the cavity of the housing body for the slide 2. The number of leaf springs 26 is preferably four, but a larger or smaller number may be envisaged. The bottom wall 23 of the slide 2 is provided with an opening 230 ensuring the passage of the leaf springs 26 inside the internal space 200. The person skilled in the art can of course employ other equivalent means of connection. for example, contact plates fixed to the bottom wall 23, in the internal space 200. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the interchangeable microphone device 3 comprises a support plate 30 on which at least a microphone 31. The plate 30 is flat. It comprises an upper face 300 and a lower face 15 301 parallel to each other and of substantially rectangular shape, some edges being however bevelled. Electrical contacts 302 are arranged on the lower face 301. These are preferably contact plates fixed on the lower face 301. These contacts 302 are arranged so that, in the operating position of the microphone device 3 (FIG. 4B), they cooperate by touching the connection means 26 associated with the slide 2 and provide an electrical connection between the microphone 30 and the electronic circuit of the guitar 1. The use of leaf springs 26 ensures a good connection with the The microphone 31 is positioned on the upper face 300 of the support plate 30. The microphone 30 may be single coil or double coil depending on the tone and / or the desired tone. Its upper face is provided with electromagnetic sensors 310 coming in front of the strings 11 of the guitar 1 when the microphone device 3 is in its operating position (FIGS. 3 and 4B). The microphone 31 is connected to the electrical contacts 302 of the plate 30 by connection means 303. In practice, the upper face 300 of the plate 30 comprises connection elements 303 connected to the electrical contacts 302. The electrical connection between the elements 303 and the contacts 302 are made by means of connections embedded in the plate 30 so that the latter is similar to a printed circuit board. When the microphone 31 is positioned on the upper face 300 of the plate 30, the connection elements 303 cooperate with the electrical connections 311 of said microphone to provide an electrical connection between said microphone and the electrical contacts 302.

The connection elements 303 can be distributed on the upper face 300 of the plate 30 so as to cooperate with the electrical connections 311 of several microphone models 31. Thus, a single model of the support plate 3 can receive several microphone models 31 , which limits the number of components and simplifies the manufacture of the device 3. These connection elements 303 consist of solder points opening on each face 300, 301 of said plate. To connect the microphone 31, it is then sufficient to melt these solder points from the lower face 301 to make the electrical connection at the upper face 300. These solder points are round or preferably oblong so as to be easily to make up for any defects in the positioning of the microphone 31 on the plate 30. In accordance with the invention, the microphone 31 and the connection means 303 of the plate 30 are housed in a rigid protective cover 32. The cover 32 is secured by screwing or welding to the plate 31 so as to maintain the microphone 31 in position and form a monobloc manipulable assembly adapted to be housed in the slide 2. The microphone 31 is therefore "sandwiched" between the cover 32 and the plate 30. The hood 32 is made of metal or rigid plastic and has an outer shape complementary to the internal space 200 of the slide 2. More particularly In FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 32 has a horizontal upper wall 323, a vertical rear wall 322 corresponding to the rear end 22 of the slide 2, a curved front wall 321 corresponding to the front end 21 of said slide. . Two parallel side walls 324, 325 disposed perpendicularly to the rear wall 322 and to the upper wall 323, laterally delimit the cover 32. The two side walls 324, 325 correspond to the side walls 24, 25 of the slide 2. The different walls 322, 323, 324, 325, 326 of the cover 32 define a housing inside which are positioned the microphone 31 and the support plate 30. The upper wall 323 may comprise one or more openings 3230 passing through the upper face of the microphone 31 (referred to as open hoods as schematized in FIGS. 6A-6D, 7A-7D, 11A-11D, 13A-13D, 14A-14D, 15A-15D) or at least the electromagnetic sensors 310 (on then speaks of closed hoods as schematized in FIGS. 5A to 5D, 8A to 8D, 9A to 9D, 10A to 10D, 12A to 12D). The lower face 326 of the cover 32 comprises an opening provided with a shoulder in which the support plate 30 is housed. When the micro / plate assembly is positioned in the cover 32, the lower face 301 of said plate 30 is located in the same plane as the underside 325 of said hood. It is advantageous for the upper face 323 of the cover 32 to be configured so that, when the microphone device 3 is in its operating position (FIGS. 3 and 4B), completely closing off the internal space 200 of the slide 2 and coming in the same plane as the body of the guitar 1. Thus, the guitar 1 is perfectly flat around the microphone device 3. In this configuration, 30 besides the fact that the aesthetic aspect of the guitar 1 is improved, the guitarist is more disturbed by any cavity that may be around said device, as may be the case in the assembly disclosed in the patent document FR 2,616,573 mentioned above. To keep the interchangeable microphone device 3 in position in the internal space 200 of the slideway 2, retaining means 27 are provided. Referring to FIG. 3, these retaining means 27 comprise fixing springs and maintaining to receive and maintain the microphone device 3 in a suitable position, to ensure both the contact with the connection means 26 of the slide 2 and define a specific position relative to the strings 11 of the guitar 1. These retaining means 27 consist more particularly of fixing springs arranged at the rear of the slide 2. These springs are each formed of a horizontal branch fixed between two vertical branches each inserted in a side wall 24, 25 of the slide 2 To ensure good stability, these springs 27 are two in number. These retaining means 27, particularly simple, do not interfere with the introduction or extraction of the microphone device 3 while ensuring the perfect maintenance of said device during the game. At the time of installation or the extraction of the micro device 3, the cover 32 slides over these springs 27. Other forms of retaining means 27 can obviously be envisaged such as pivoting fingers disposed at the edge of the slide 2. Thanks to the invention, the guitarist has a ready-to-assemble set (or kit) comprising the electric guitar 1 and several interchangeable microphone devices 3. Each microphone device 3 preferably comprises a different microphone model 31 (FENDER, GIBSON, DUNCAN, ...). In this way, the guitarist can easily change the microphone during the game and quickly get different sounds on the same guitar: bass, treble, jazz, rock, blues, pop, funk, etc.

The guitar is preferably equipped with a pre-equipment plate (FIG. 17) identical to those described and shown in FIGS. 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 6A, -13- and 8 of the above-mentioned patent document FR 2,664,415. , and to which the skilled person can refer. These plates whose shape corresponds to the shape of the guitar they are intended to equip (guitar solo, bass guitar, ...), are fixed by screwing to the body of the guitar. The plate has a cutout for the rear end of the not shown handle of the guitar and a cutout for the control means (potentiometers, inverters, filters, ...). The tray is also provided with a cutout to receive the slide 2 described above. The tray may also include one or more cutouts that receive other microphones, not interchangeable.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. An electric guitar comprising: - a body (10) on which ropes (11) are mounted, said body incorporating an electronic circuit for controlling and / or adjusting the sound and / or the tone of the sounds emitted by said strings, a slideway (2) integrated in the body (10), said slideway being in the form of a ramp, defining an internal space (200) and passing under the ropes (11), said slideway being associated with connection means (26) to the electronic circuit, - an interchangeable micro device (3) removably placed in the internal space (200) of the slide (2), retaining means (27) for holding said device in position in said internal space, said device comprising: a support plate (30) comprising an upper face (300) and a lower face (301), electrical contacts (302) being arranged on said lower face, said contacts being arranged so that , d in the operating position of said microphone device, they cooperate by touching the connection means (26) associated with the slide (2) and provide an electrical connection between the microphone (31) and the electronic circuit, o at least one microphone (31) positioned on the upper face (300) of the support plate (30), said microphone being connected to the electrical contacts (302) of said plate by connection means (303), characterized by the fact that the interchangeable microphone device (3) further comprises a rigid protective cover (32) inside which are housed the microphone (31) and the connection means (303) to the electrical contacts (302) of the support plate (30). ), said cap being secured to said plate so as to maintain said micro position and form a manipulable monobloc assembly adapted to be housed in the inner space (200) of the slide (2). A guitar according to claim 1, wherein the cover (32) comprises an upper wall (323) configured so that, when the microphone device (3) is in its operating position, completely blanking the internal space (200) ) of the slide (2) and come in the same plane as the body (10) of said guitar. 3. Guitar according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the cover (32) comprises a housing in which are positioned the microphone (31) and the support plate (30). 4. Guitar according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper face (300) of the support plate (30) comprises connecting elements (303) connected to the electrical contacts (302), said connecting elements cooperating with the electrical connections of the microphone (31) to provide an electrical connection between said microphone and said electrical contacts. 5. Guitar according to claim 4, wherein the connection elements (303) of the support plate (30) are distributed on the upper face (300) of said plate so as to cooperate with the electrical connections of several microphone models. (31). 6. Guitar according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connection elements (303) of the support plate (30) consist of solder points opening on each face (300, 301) of said plate. 7. Guitar according to claim 6, wherein the solder points have an oblong shape. An interchangeable microphone device for an electric guitar (1) comprising: a support plate (30) comprising an upper face (300) and a lower face (301), electrical contacts (302) being arranged on said lower face, said contacts being intended to cooperate, by touching, with means of connection (26) to the electronic circuit of said guitar, 5 - at least one microphone (31) positioned on the upper face (300) of the support plate (30), said micro being connected to the electrical contacts (302) of said plate by connecting means (303), not characterized by the fact that said interchangeable microphone device (3) further comprises a hood (32) of rigid protection inside of which are housed the microphone (31) and the connection means (303) to the electrical contacts (302) of the support plate (30), said cover being secured to said plate so as to hold said microphone in position and form an assembly e monoblock manipulable. 9. Assembly ready to mount characterized by the fact that it comprises: - an electric guitar (1) having a body (10) on which ropes (11) are mounted, said body incorporating an electronic circuit for controlling and / or to adjust the sound and / or tone of the sounds emitted by said strings, a slideway (2) being integrated into said body, said slideway being in the form of a ramp, defining an internal space (200) and passing under said strings said slideway being associated with connection means (26) to the electronic circuit; a plurality of interchangeable microphone devices (3) according to claim 8, each said device being configured to be releasably placed in the space internal (200) of said slide. 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein each interchangeable microphone device (3) comprises a different microphone model (31).