GB2492566A - A stringed instrument with a neck which can be folded into the body of the instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

A stringed instrument comprises a neck 9 and a body 2. The neck 9 is able to be folded into the body 2 of the instrument, preferably by a rotating heel 11. The body may include a cavity 10 into which the neck 9 is folded. A moveable string retaining device 1, such as a tailpiece which can be moved along the length of the body 2, may be provided such that the tension on the strings is reduced to allow the neck 9 to be folded with the strings still attached. A lid (13) may be fitted to the instrument body 2 after the neck 9 is folded, thus forming a case for the instrument from the body 2 and the lid. Alternatively, the lid (13) may be attached to a harness (14) which covers the body of the instrument and secures the folded neck 9. Carrying straps or handles may be provided.

Description

Stringed Musical Instrument With Folding Neck, Rotating Heel and Moveable String Retaining Device This invention relates to arrangements for simpfying the carrying of strhiged musical instruments.

When carrying a stringed instrument such as a guitar, tar example when travelling, the size and delicacy of the instrument often means that either the instrument has to be heavfly protected with a case, or is by replaced by smaller scale version of the instrument.

However, these solutions can lead to a number of difficulties. Firstly, when placed in a case of sufficient rigidity to protect the instrument, the resulting load is of increased size and weight, which can lead to difficulties when carrying the instrument.

Secondly, when the instrument is replaced by a smaller scale version to ease carrying difficulties, a smaller instrument may sUU be delicate and flable to be damaged. In addition a smaHer scale instrument may lack the performance characteristics of a full--size instrument, which may render this solution inappropriate.

To overcome these problems, the present invention proposes a standard sized stringed instrument with a neck which can be folded via a rotating heel and secured in the body of the instrument.

With a body composed of sufficiently robust material, and the neck folded as described, the attachment of a combined Ud and harness means that the instrument forms it-s own case.

A moveable string retaining device means that the sttings of the instrument need not be removed during the folding operation.

The invention will now he described solely by way of example, using a guitar by way of illustration, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 &2 show the moveable tailpiece; Figure 3 is a side view of an instrument and shows the folding neck; Figures 4&1 0 show the neck having been folded; Figure 5 shows the combined lid and harness; Figures 6,7,8 and 9 show the rotating heel.

In Figure 1, a tailpiece 1, which in this example is of the trapeze-type but need not be, is attached to the body 2 of the hisfturnent in usual place, behind the bridge 3. In this example the taflpiece 1 is secured by a threaded talpiece boft 4, which screws through though the tapiece 1 and ft,to the body 2. The head of the taUpiece bolt 4 may be efthar ridged around the sides in order to faciUtate fastening and unfastening with finger pressure, or angular in order to lacihtate fastening and unfastening with a tooL The attaching part of the tailpce 5 is formed from two parts hinged by a tailpiece hinge 6, and is driHed to receive the tapiece bolt 4 at the bolt-hole 7. The bridge 3 is drVed to receive the taflpiece bolt 4, once threaded through the bolt-hde 7, at the bridge heR-hole 8 when the taUpiece I is moved.

In Figure 2, the tailpiece 1 is shown now moved and attached to the body 2 at the bridge 3 by the taUpiece boit 4 through the baR-hole 7 into the bridge 3 at the bridge bolt--hole 8. With the tailpiece 1 moved and secured thus, the tension on the strings of the instrument can be relaxed to the extent that neck may now be folded for transport without having to remove the strings.

It may be that a trapeze-style tailpiece is either not necessary or suitable for certain instruments. For example some other form of moveable string retaining device, combined with a bridge or otherwise, may be suitable. The key characteristics of any such alternative are that it should be capable of performing satisfactorfly when the instrument is being played, and be capable of reducing the tension on the instruments strings such that the neck can be folded without the need for the strings to be removed.

It may be that some alternative mechanism to a tailpiece bolt may he used, such as a spring-loaded push button. The key characteristics of any alternative fastening method are that it should be capable of aUowing the instrument to perform satisfactorily when the instrument is being played, and be capabie of being fastened and unfastened easily to facilitate the movement of the string retaining device.

In Figure 3, the tailpiece 1 having been moved as per Figure 2, the instrument neck 9 can be folded in the direction from A to B into a cavity lOin the instrument body 2 by the operation of the rotating heel 11. The dimensions and the scale of the instrument and should be such that the neck 9 and head 12 can be accommodated in the cavity 10. The cavity 10 should he shaped to accommodate the neck 9 and head 12.

In this example the instrument body shape is of the bowl-shape variety but this need not be the case and the provisions of this invention will apply to other instrument body shapes.

Figure 4 shows the back of the instrument after it has been folded as per Figure 3, with the neck 9 and head 12 sitting in the cavity 10.

In Figure 5, the lid 13 is attached to the body 2 via a harness 14. The harness 14 will cover the cavity 10 and thus secure the folded neck 9 and head 12. The lid 13 and harness 14 may be made from the same material as the body 2 thus ensuring both strength and visual appeaL The lid 13 may be attached to the body 2 in a number of ways. U may be attached using a single bolt similar to the taUpiece bolt 4, which may be inserted through the Ud 13 andIor the harness 14 into the bolt-hole 7, Or the lid 13 and the harness 14 may not attach to the body and instead may attach to each other by some other secure method such as folding locks. The lid may have a variety of handles and straps attached to it to facilitate the carrying o the instrument. It might also contain compartments for carrying accessories.

In Figure 6, the rotating heel 11 is shown in detail and in the playing position. In this position the neck 9 is attached to the body 2 and both parts of the fingerboard, 19 and 20, are touching in a virtually seamless fashion. The joint on the fingerboard 19 and 20 may be either a straight line, perhaps at a fret on a guitar, or fashioned to provide additional locking, on a tretless nstrument perhaps. The rotor 15 is attached to the neck 9 and sits inside two parts of the cylinder 16 which are attached to the body 2. The rotor 15, and thus the neck 9, is held in place by simple bolts at lock-holes 17 and 18. Just as with the tailpiece bolt 4, the head of the bolts in lock-hoies 17 and 18 may he either ridged around the sides in order to facilitate fastening and unfastening with finger pressure, or angular in order to facilitate fastening and unfastening with a tool. Or the rotor 15 and the neck 9 may be secured by some other secure method not requiring bolts such as spring-loaded push buttons.

In Figure 7, the rotating heel 11 is shown after the bolts at lock-holes 17 and 18 have been removed and the neck 9 has been rotated through 90 degrees towards the cavity 10. The dMsion of the fingerboard 19 and 20 can be seen clearly.

In Figure 8, the rotating heel 11 is shown after the neck 9 has been rotated through degrees into the cavity 10. At this point one of the bolts may be inserted at lock-hole 18 to secure the neck 9. At this point Figure 4 illustrates the view from the back of the instrument. Part of the fingerboard 20 remains on the top of the body 2, whilst the other part of the fingerboard 19, being attached to the neck 9, has gone into the cavity 10.

Figure 9 is a front view of the rotating heel 11 including a crosssection of the neck 9 without the head 12. The components of the rotating heel 11 may be constructed from the same material as the neck 9, or may he of different material. The rotor 15 may be bonded to the neck 9 using adhesive or may be secured via bolts or some other mechanism, perhaps under the fingerboard 19. The rotor 15 itself may be constructed from one piece of material or indeed from two or more given that it should attach to the neck 9 and provide the axle function in relation to the cyUnder 16. The cyhnder 16 could be constructed from one or more pieces of material provided (attaches to the body 2 and provides support to the rotor 15 Figure 10 shows the front of the instrument after it has been folded as per FigureS.

The principles and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated herein by way of example. However it must be understood that this invention may be practised otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated herein without departing from its spirit and scope, and many other modifications of the exact details of the embodiment herein, along with the suggested alternatives and variations herein, wilt he apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (2)

1. <claim-text>S</claim-text> <claim-text>Claims 1. A stringed instrument with a neck which can be folded into the body of the instrument,
2. 2. A stringed instrument according to caim I in which the neck and head are folded into a cavity in the body ot the instrument.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A stringed instrument according to the any of the preceding claims, in which a string retaining device is moveab[e such that the tension on the strings is reduced to allow the neck to be folded with the strings still attached.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A stringed instrument according to claim I, in which the neck can be folded by a rotating heeL 5. A rotating heel according to claim 4, in which the heel rotates by a rotor mechanism.6. A stringed instrument according to claim 1, in which a lid can be fitted to the instrument body after the neck is folded, thus forming a case for the instrument from the body and the lid, 7. A stringed instrument according to claim 6, in which the lid is attached to a harness which covers the cavity and secures the folded neck.6. A stringed instrument according to claim 7, in which carrying straps and handles can be attached to the case.</claim-text>