GB2226910A

GB2226910A - Termination of metallic wire musical instrument strings

Info

Publication number: GB2226910A
Application number: GB8926439A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugh Manson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-26
Filing date: 1989-11-22
Publication date: 1990-07-11
Also published as: GB8827678D0; GB8926439D0

Abstract

A metallic wire musical instrument string (4) has a plastics element (1), preferably spherical, fixed to one end as an anchorage. The element may be formed in two halves which are welded to the string end (5) which is kinked (6) or recured (Fig. 2) to give good anchorage; or the element may be injected molded around the string end; a blob of solder may first be applied at or near the string end and the element molded thereover (Figs. 3-4). The string is resistant to breakage or slipping in use. <IMAGE>

Description

TERMINATION OF METALLIC WIRE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STRINGS This invention relates to an improved termination for use in the attachment of a metallic wire string of a musical string to an appropriate anchorage on a musical instrument.

In one known arrangement which is utilised in the formation of an end attachment for a metallic guitar string, a single strand of wire forming the guitar string is lodged around a thimble or eyelet and the free end of the wire and the main part of the wire strand are twisted together to secure the thimble or eyelet within the loop.

Whilst such an arrangement is of simple construction it has the disadvantage that it is vulnerable to breakage or slipping, under the tension placed on the guitar string, particularly when the string is subjected to increased pressure during the operation of a tremelo.

In order to increase the strength of the fastening arrangement it has been proposed to re-inforce the twisted wire joint, for example by the application of a binding to the twisted joint. However this increases the complexity of the construction.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved string fastening that combines the advantage of simplicity with an increased resistance to breakage and slipping.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a metallic musical instrument string having a plastics element welded or molded to one end thereof sufficiently firmly to withstand the tension placed on the string when in use, so as to serve as an anchorage for one end of the string.

Suitably, the plastics element is in the shape of a ball or sphere, although this is not essential and any desired shape can be chosen to suit the configuration of the particular instrument in which the string is to be used.

In one embodiment, the plastics element such as a sphere has a short aperture, such as a cylindrical hole, formed part of the way therethrough (the element may be formed in two halves which mate around the end of the string) and the element is then fused to the end of the string by welding, e.g. sonic welding; alternatively the plastics element can be directly injection molded on around the end of the string.

In another embodiment, a blob or droplet of metal is formed at or near the end Or. the string, by any suitable means such as soldering, welding or brazing, whereby a metal which usually is softer than the metallic wire string is added tc the string; a plastics element such as a ball is then molded or welded around this blob. This has the advantage of attaching the plastics element most strongly to the string, and the resultant terminal element will withstand a linear pull thereon.

In either embodiment, if the plastics element is spherical, it will make contact over the entire circumference or perimeter of a hole or slot formed in the bridge or tail piece of the instrument through which the string passes, and thus the transmission of energy and therefore of sound will be superior to that of a string with a brass ball as used hitherto, which can have a rather haphazard surface contact area with the tail piece. The plastics element can be coloured to any desired hue, which can be used to designate the pitch of the string to which it is attached.

In the manufacture of the second embodiment, the metallic blob can be formed at designated intervals along a continuous length of the wire and the wire can be stored as a roll in this manner until the plastics effiement is formed around each blob, at which time the wire is then cut to the desired length. The wire may be cut before or after the plastics element is formed; the end of the string will look neater if it is cut before the ball is applied, but the alternative procedure can be followed without affecting the functioning of the string.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the end of a musical instrument string according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a slightly modified form of the string end of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a second embodiment of the string of the invention, and Fig. 4 is a section along line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, a plastics sphere 1 has a spigot or protrusion 2 wherein is formed an aperture 3 extending part way into the sphere, and a metallic wire string 4 has its end 5 swithin this sphere, which is then welded or otherwise fused onto the end of the string. To obtain better anchorage of the string within the ball, the string is given an angular V-shaped configuration as shown at 6, or alternatively a re-curved end as shown at 6 in Fig. 2. The aperture 3 preferably tapers directly onto the sphere 1, thus allowing the string to be passed conveniently to the interior of the sphere A nylon is a suitable plastics material for the sphere 1.

Referring to Fig. 3, a metallic wire string 10 has a blob of metallic material 11 applied to it by welding, brazing or soldering, e .-g . silver solder, and is cut off at 12, and then is fed into a mold where a plastics ball end 13 and extended spigot 14 is molded thereover. Suitable plastics materials are glass-filled nylon and plastics materials reinforced with graphite fibers.

The invention can be applied to either twisted, stranded strings or to single strands of wire, for any type of metallic musical instrument string.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A metallic musical instrument string having a plastics element welded or molded to one end thereof sufficiently firmly to withstand the tension placed on the string when in use, so as to serve as an anchorage for one end of the string.

2. A musical instrument string as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said plastics ball, in at least two parts which together define an aperture for receiving the end of the string, is fused to the end of the string by welding.

3. A musical instrument string as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the plastics sphere was formed by directly injection molding onto the end of the string.

4. A musical instrument string as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a metallic blob was first formed at or near the end of the string, and a plastics sphere was then formed around this blob.

5. A musical instrument string having a terminal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.