GB2513176A

GB2513176A - Musical instrument fret

Info

Publication number: GB2513176A
Application number: GB1307074.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Savile Turner; Richard Barry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-04-19
Filing date: 2013-04-19
Publication date: 2014-10-22
Also published as: GB201307074D0

Abstract

A musical instrument fret 1, for example a fret for a guitar, is constructed using mouldable material. The use of rounded edges 5 and rounded surfaces 6 are preferably incorporated within the fret design to protect the hand from injury whilst being played. Holes 8 and slots 2 may be incorporated within the design to facilitate the location and fixing of the fret 1 to the instruments fingerboard, and recessed lips 7 may be added as a means of protecting the hand from possible damage caused by the use of mechanical fixings. The fret preferably has a large to facilitate the attaching of the fret 1 to the fingerboard of a musical instrument by the use of mechanical and/or chemical fixings. Suitable materials for the fret include: plastic, metal, ceramic, glass, carbon fibre and wood pulp.

Description

Musical instrument fret This invention relates to a raised element on the neck of a stringed musical instrument.

A fret is a raised element on the neck of a stringed musical instrument. Frets usually extend across the fill width of the neck.

On most modern western fretted instruments, frets are metal T' shaped strips inserted into the fingerboard. On some historical instruments and non-European instruments, frets are made from pieces of string tied around the neck.

Frets divide the fingerboard part of the neck into fixed segments at intervals related to a musical framework. On instruments such as guitars, each fret represents one semitone in the standard western system where one octave is divided into twelve semitones.

Traditionally manufacturing a fretted musical instrument requires complex machining or hand crafting of the fingerboard to produce a series of accurately positioned and finely toleranced slots cut into the fingerboard. The vertical part of the T' shaped metal strip or tang, is cut to length and then inserted into these slots, which ensure a secure location.

The frets are usually hand finished to remove any buns or sharp edges, which might cause injury to the hand whilst playing the instrument.

This invention reduces the amount of complex machining or hand crafting required to produce a fretted musical instrument and incorporates the necessary rounded surtäces and edges, within the fret design to protect the hand from injury whilst being played.

The incorporation of the necessary rounded surfaces and edges within this invention are achieved by the use of any moulded material, desirably of plastic or metal, but any mouldable material such as ceramic, glass, carbon fibre or wood pulp could be used.

Holes and/or slots are incorporated within the design to facilitate the location of the frets to the fingerboard of a musical instrument.

Holes and/or slots are incorporated within the design to facilitate the fixing of the frets to the fingerboard of a musical instrument by use of mechanical and/or chemical fixings.

This invention provides a large surface area in order to facilitate the attaching of the frets to the fingerboard of a musical instrument by use of mechanical and/or chemical fixings.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an example of a Fret uinttached to the fingerboard of a musical instrument.

Figure 2 shows the end view of an example fret.

Figure 3 shows the side view of an exampk fret.

In figures 1 to 3, the fret (1), has any number of rounded edges (5), and/or rounded surfaces (6), to protect the hand from injury whilst being played.

In figures I and 3, any number of hoks (8) andlor s'ots (2) have been created to facilitate the location of the fret (1), onto the fingerboard used in conjunction with templates or other mark making devices.

in figures 1 and 3, any number of holes (8) and/or slots (3) have been created as a key, in conjunction with a large surface area (4), to facilitate the chemical fixing of the fret(l) to the fingerboard.

In addition, to facilitate the assembly of the fret (1) onto a musical instrument in a safe and rigid manner, for instance by using mechanical fixings such as pins, a recessed lip (7) has been created to protect the hand from possible damage caused by the mechanical fixings.

Claims

Claims 1. A musical instrument fret constructed using mouldable material.
2. A musical instrument fret according to daim 1, in which all the necessary rounded surfaces and edges are incorporated within the fret design to protect the hand from injury whilst being played.
3. A musical instrument fret according to claim 1, in which holes and/or slots are incorporated within the design to facilitate the location of the fret on to the fingerboard of a musical instrument, used in conjunction with a template or other mark making device.
4. A musical instrument fret according to claim 1, in which holes and/or slots are incorporated within the design to facilitate the fixing of the frets to the fingerboard of a musical instrument by the use of mechanical fixings.
5. A musical instrument fret according to claims 1 and 4, in which the use of a large surface area facilitates the attaching of the frets to the fingerboard of a musical instrument by the use of mechanical and/or chemical fixings.
6. A musical instrument fret according to claims 1, 4 and 5, in which the means of protecting the fingers from possible damage caused by the use of rnechanica fixings has been achieved with the inclusion of a recessed lip.
7. A musical instrument fret according to claim 1, 4 and 5, in which any number of holes and/or slots have been created as a key, in conjunction with a large surface area to facilitate the chemica' fixing of the fret to the fingerboard.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A musical instrument fret, in which holes andlor slots are incorporated within the design to facilitate the location of the fret on to the fmgerboard of a musical instrument, used in conjunction with a template or other mark making device.2. A musical instrument fret according to claim 1, in which all the necessary rounded surfaces and edges constructed using mouldable material are incorporated within the fret design to protect the hand from injury whilst being played.3. A musical instrument fret according to claim 1, in which holes and/or slots are incorporated within the design to facilitate the fixing of the frets to the fmgerboard of a musical instrument by the use of mechanical fixings.4. A musical instrument fret according to claims 1 and 3, in which the use of a large surface area facilitates the attaching of the frets to the fingerboard of a musical instrument by the use of mechanical and/or chemical fixings.5. A musical instrument fret according to claims 1, 3 and 4, in which the means of protecting the fmgers from possible damage caused by the use of mechanical * fixings has been achieved with the inclusion of a recessed lip.: 6. A musical instrument fret according to claims 1, 3 and 4, in which any number * of holes and/or slots have been created as a key, in conjunction with a large surface area to facilitate the chemical fixing of the fret to the fmgerboard." 7. A musical instrument fret according to claims 1 to 6, in which mouldable material is used in the construction in order to reduce the manufacturing costs. * * S *