GB2376127A

GB2376127A - Plectrum

Info

Publication number: GB2376127A
Application number: GB0113465A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Damien Nuttall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-01
Filing date: 2001-06-01
Publication date: 2002-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-01
Also published as: GB2376127B; GB0113465D0

Abstract

A flat one piece body (10), which may be circular, teardrop shaped, of three cornered shape or any other, has an aperture (12) in a central region to afford a better grip to a player. The body (10) also preferably tapers in thickness from one edge region (14) to an opposing region (16), the latter serving as a plucking region.

Description

PLECTRUM This invention relates to a plectrum, which may also be known as a pick, which is used in the playing of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukelele and the like. The plectrum is held between the thumb and index finger of the player and is used to pluck one or more strings of the instrument, causing it/them to vibrate and produce sound.

Commonplace, commercially available plectrums consist of flat, disc-like bodies, usually moulded of plastics material, and usually of a shape having three rounded corners, one of which is used to pluck the strings, while the rest of the body is gripped by the player. These are inexpensive to produce, are frequently lost by players, and consequently are purchased in their thousands.

Many proposals have been made for production of more elaborate designs of plectrums, for example consisting of more than one part assembled together, e. g. a grip part and a plucking projection, or for a raised or indented pattern to be provided on the body to facilitate gripping, or for provision of more than one potential plucking projection or region, for selective use by

- : he player. One proposal for the latter is disclosed in US 4,228, 719 wherein a three cornered single piece body of uniform thickness has holes of different size formed adjacent two of its corners, so that each corner region is of different flexibility, and any of these can be selected to serve as the plucking part of the device to achieve different sound effects in use. Other proposals have been made for tapering the or each plucking region or corner of a plectrum.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plectrum of simple design, which affords a better grip for the player than many on the market, yet which is particularly inexpensive and easy to manufacture, with a high degree of reliability.

Another objection of the invention is to provide a design of plectrum which will enable a plurality of same to be stored and displayed on a particularly simple form of display apparatus, in contrast to the multi-compartment display cases which are conventional.

With these objects in view, the invention provides a plectrum comprising a substantially flat one-piece body having a single aperture formed there through in a central region.

The body may conveniently be moulded in one piece of resilient plastics material. However, other resilient material may be used

within the scope of the invention, e. g. metal, including special alloys.

Although a plectrum in accordance with the invention may have any outer peripheral shape, including the commonplace three cornered shape, a substantially circular outer periphery is one preferred embodiment. The aperture will most conveniently also be of circular shape (since that is easiest in moulding or punching operations), and it may then be concentric with the outer periphery, or substantially so. Another preferred embodiment has an outer periphery or teardrop shape, that is to say of a shape which is part-circular, or substantially so, but with a single pointed projection.

The aperture in the body enables a player to keep a firm grip on the plectrum, as the finger and thumb of the player engage therein. In this respect, a relatively large aperture, having an area of at least 20% of the area of the body is to be preferred.

The central position of said aperture means however, that it should not unduly weaken the body or lead to a high reject rate in manufacture or a tendency for early failure (breakage).

Plectrums in accordance with the invention may be of substantially uniform thickness, or may vary in thickness. It is particularly preferred that they should take the form of a thin wedge shape, tapering across the entire diameter or extent of the

00dy from a first peripheral edge region to an opposing peripheral edge region.

Typically, plectrums are less then lmm in thickness and are marked to indicate the thickness of material in the plucking region. Plectrums having a thickness of up to 3mm are, however, also known.

The proposed taper or thickness reduction of plectrums in accordance with the invention is likely to be of a minimum of 0. lmm, and a whole range may be provided having different maximum and minimum thickness, but still a reduction of at least O. lmm from one side across to the other.

In the case of a teardrop shape plectrum, the thinnest region will be in the pointer as that is clearly designed to be the plucking region.

Finally, a plurality of plectrums in accordance with the invention may advantageously be displayed upon a device comprising a base upon which a plurality of upstanding posts are mounted, the aperture of each plectrum enabling it to engage over a respective post.

The invention will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a plectrum of the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the same plectrum as in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the plectrum shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a plectrum of the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of a third embodiment ; and Figure 6 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 a first embodiment comprises a moulded plastics disc 10 of circular outline having a hole 12 through the centre, which is substantially concentric with the outline of the body 10. The body 10 is in the region of 2cm in diameter, but could be somewhat larger. The body 10 is also tapered in thickness, as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3, from a thickest edge region 14 to an opposing thinnest edge region 16.

Thus it decreases gradually in thickness across its whole diameter. It may be, for example, 0.4 or 0.45mm or 0.5mm at its thickest edge 14, tapering to 0.3 or 0.35 or 0.4mm, respectively,

its thinnest edge 16. The latter will be the edge region used r plucking.

A whole range of such plectra (plectrums) may be envisaged having a maximum thickness of say 1mm, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3mm and each tapering by about O. lmm. They may instead be about 0.95, 0.85mm etc at thickest, again tapering by about O. lmm to the thinnest edge. Exceptionally, plectra having an even thicker maximum thickness and a greater reduction in thickness may be produced.

These plectrums may all be readily located and retained upon a display apparatus (not shown) which comprises a base upon which a plurality of posts are mounted. The base may be an elongate strip, or a block or be circular or any other suitable shape or configuration. The holes 12 engage over the posts. This is more convenient than multi-compartmental boxes in which plectrums having hitherto been displayed, as there is no need for a lid and items are no longer likely to drop out/off the display.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of plectrum in accordance with the invention in which the body 20 is of a teardrop shape, having a single pointed plucking region 22 extending from a generally circular body shape. Again there is a hole 24 centrally of the circular part, and again the body 20 tapers in thickness. The thickest edge region 26 is opposite the rounded pointer 22, and the thinnest edge region is at the tip of the pointer 22.

Figure 5 shows a third embodiment, similar to Figure 4 and using the same reference numerals for corresponding parts to avoid repetition. In this case, the tapering in the thickness of the body 20 only takes place over the circular region so that the minimum thickness is reached at 28 at the root the pointer 22, while the pointer 22 is of generally similar uniform thickness to that thinnest region 28.

Figure 6 shows another embodiment, similar to Figures 1 to 3 in all other respects (and using the same reference numerals to avoid repetition) but additionally having an elastomeric ring 18 encircling the hole 16 and spaced intermediate the hole 12 and the outer edge of the body. This ring 18, which may be of natural or synthetic rubber, may be adhered to one surface or embedded in a circular groove. It further improves the grippability of the plectrum. It may also be applied to a device as shaped in Figures 4 and 5.

Many other variations in detail are possible within the scope of the invention, the foregoing being only illustrative.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A plectrum comprising a substantially flat one-piece body having a single aperture formed therethrough in a central region.
2. A plectrum as claimed in claim 1 having an outer periphery of substantially circular shape.
3. A plectrum as claimed in claim 1 having an outer periphery of teardrop shape, namely substantially part-circular but with a single projection.
4. A plectrum as claimed in claim 1 having an other periphery of three-cornered shape.
5. A plectrum as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the aperture is of substantially circular shape.
6. A plectrum as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the area of the aperture is at least 20% of the area of the body.

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7. A plectrum for a stringed instrument substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A plectrum as claimed in any preceding claim which varies in thickness.

8. A plectrum as claimed in any preceding claim which reduces in thickness from a first peripheral edge region to an opposing region.

9. A plectrum as claimed in claim 8 wherein the opposing region is a peripheral edge region.

10. A plectrum as claimed in claim 8 which reduces in thickness by at least O. lmm.

11. A plectrum as claimed in claim 8 which reduces in thickness by up to 3mm.

12. A range of plectrums, each as claimed in claim 8, each of differing thickness at a first peripheral edge region, but each reducing in thickness by at least O. lmm to an opposing region.

13. A plectrum as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 further comprising a ring of elastomeric material mounted on one face of the body and encircling the aperture.

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14. A plurality of plectrums as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 or 13 in combination with a display device comprising a base upon which a plurality of upstanding posts are mounted, the aperture of each plectrum enabling it to engage over a respective post.

15. A plectrum for a stringed instrument substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, or Figures 4 and 5, or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A plectrum comprising a substantially flat one piece body having an outer periphery of substantially circular shape and having a single, substantially circular aperture formed therethrough in a central region, the body of the plectrum reducing in thickness by at least O. lmm from a first peripheral edge region to an opposing peripheral edge region.

2. A plectrum as claimed in claim 1 wherein the area of the aperture is at least 20% of the area of the body.

3. A plectrum as claimed in claim 1 or 2 which reduces in thickness by up to 3mm.

4. A range of plectrums, each as claimed in claim 1, each of differing thickness at a first peripheral edge region, but each reducing in thickness by at least O. lmm to an opposing region.

5. A plectrum as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 further comprising a ring of elastomeric material mounted on one face of the body and encircling the aperture.

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6. A plurality of plectrums as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 or 5 in combination with a display device comprising a base upon which a plurality of upstanding posts are mounted, the aperture of each plectrum enabling it to engage over a respective post.