JPS6319876B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a string tuning device for use in a stringed musical instrument.
More specifically, the present invention rapidly replaces defective strings;
The present invention relates to a string tuning device that can rapidly tune replacement strings. The invention will be of particular value to professional artists and blind musicians.

Description of the Prior Art In one of the most known string tuning mechanisms, one end of the string is secured to an anchor at one end of the instrument, the other end of the string is passed through a hole in a rotatable spool, and then the string is turned around the spool. It is something that is rolled up. The spool is turned until a predetermined tension is applied to the string, producing a predetermined sound.

In other conventional tethering and tuning device mechanisms, the string is tied in a knot at one end and secured to the grooved end of the fret bar or neck of the instrument. The tuning section of such a mechanism requires passing the remaining untethered portion of the string through a channel with one or more grooves and one or more holes. The string is held fixed to the tuning section of the mechanism by means of tightening means or winding means.

Tuning has also been accomplished by passing the free end of a string with a ball at one end through a hole in a cylindrical tuning stud. In this device, the stud has threads on its outer surface that engage the internal threads of the articulating nut. The free ends of the strings are tied together with the strings of the instrument.
The string tension is adjusted by adjusting the tuning nut so that the threaded tuning stud pulls into the tuning nut. This tuning method involves inserting the replacement string into the hole of the tuning stud.
Requires passage through a cylindrical channel and longitudinal slot. The strings are then tied together at the end of the guitar's net with a regular knot, such as a "katakomi". Changing strings on a guitar that uses such a string tuning mechanism is far from easy or quick. The use of strings with loops at each end has also been proposed in the prior art. In such a mechanism, a loop at one end of the string is hooked to a fixed anchor at the base of the instrument, and the other end of the string is wrapped around a hook formed at the end of the slidable screwed rod of the string.
The threaded rod can be adjusted longitudinally by means of a tuning nut to increase or decrease the string tension. In such a string tuning mechanism, the adjustable portion is located at the end of the neck of the instrument, and the string is anchored to the base of the instrument. Changing strings in this mechanism is inconvenient, requires both hands, and cannot be easily performed by blind musicians.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a string tuning device that can quickly replace a defective string and quickly tune the replaced string. Due to the speed of string replacement achieved by the present invention, interruptions in main body work due to replacement of defective strings can be minimized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that allows replacing a defective string and adjusting the tone of the replaced string using only one hand and without any assistance other than touch. Therefore, the present invention will be good news for blind musicians.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can maximize the life of the string by eliminating twisting of the string during tuning, which shortens the life of the string.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the tone of a stringed instrument.

A further object is to reduce the cost and simplify the construction of the stringer, making it more convenient for musicians to play and easier to transport and store.

The object of the present invention is achieved by the following string tuning device of the present invention. That is, according to the present invention, the string tuning device has a tuning ball fixed to one end of each string, has a fixing means for the other end of each string, and has one end of the strings closely mounted on the musical instrument. a tuning block having a separate tuning channel aligned with each string, and a plurality of anchor members, one of the anchor members being located within each channel, the tuning block having a separate tuning channel aligned with each string; a notch formed in each end of the anchor member proximate one end of the string for the ball to be slidably inserted therein, the notch providing an exit slot for the string to project through the end of the anchor member; means for controllably adjusting the position of each anchor member within its respective channel to increase or decrease tension in the strings of the instrument, and mounted on the instrument between the tuning block and the fastening means; It consists of bridge means.

The tuning plug is preferably circular and has a circumferential groove for receiving the end of the string fixed to the ball. The anchor plugs are of similar construction but preferably have different head sizes or shapes and are preferably secured at the end of the string opposite the end with the tuning ball.

The channel of the tuning block preferably has first and second opposing side walls, the first side wall having an end having a guideway aligned with the notch. The second side wall has a stop opposite the guideway of the first side wall. The shape of the guideway is preferably semicircular.

The adjustment means preferably include individual tuning knobs and a threaded bolt secured to one end of each knob. A threaded bolt is slidably mounted through one end of each articulating block into a longitudinally threaded hole in the anchor member. The tuning knob moves the anchor member longitudinally within the channel of the tuning block. The articulation knob is preferably cylindrical and the curved surface of the knob has an annular rib and an annular channel that allow for interfitting with adjacent knobs and for adjusting the mutual engagement by manual adjustment of the knob. The proximity knob is designed not to rotate. This arrangement allows the spacing between adjacent bolts to be reduced, making it suitable for use with a large number of strings relative to the size of the instrument.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawings.

As realized in FIG. 1, the string tuning device includes a string anchor 1, a string 2 with beads at both ends, a bridge 3, and a tuning block 4.

In this embodiment shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, the fastening means comprises an anchor plate 5, preferably of metal, which has a cylindrical anchor hole 6, which It extends approximately half the depth of the board in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the strings. A separate anchor hole 6 is provided for each string of the instrument. An anchor slot 7 extends through the plate 5 in a direction parallel to the string, and the string passes through the center of each anchor hole 6. A countersunk mounting hole 8 is provided for attaching the string anchor to the neck of the instrument, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. A coupling hole 9 extends through the plate 5 below the top of each anchor slot 7 and is aligned with the string. A countersinking section 10 is provided so as to oppose the maximum length of the string and to be aligned with each anchor slot 7. Each anchor hole 6 can be threaded to receive a threaded anchoring screw 11 as shown in FIG. A threaded open anchor hole for receiving an anchor screw 11 is shown in FIG.

According to the invention, each string of the musical instrument preferably has balls at both ends. Circular ball 1 as in the example
2 has a groove 13 around the center of the cylindrical surface 14 of the ball in FIGS. One end of string 2 is
Prior to its fastening, it is looped around surface 14 within groove 13. A second ball, anchor ball 15 - preferably smaller than tuning ball 12 - is secured to the other end of the string in the same manner as tuning ball 12. Anchor ball 15 and articulation ball 12
preferably exhibit different sizes or shapes to enable their tactile differentiation. However, it is not necessary to attach a ball to one end of the string. In this case, one end of the string is moored to the anchor plate by tying or tightening, as described below.

The string 2 is anchored within the anchor plate in one of three ways. The first method is applicable in the case of strings having an anchor ball attached to one end. Such a string is passed through the anchor slot 7 until the anchor ball 15 is seated in the corresponding anchor recess.
In this embodiment, there is no need to drill the anchor hole 6 or screw in the anchor screw 11.

The second embodiment is suitable for attaching a string end without a ball, and the string 2 is passed through the coupling hole 9 in the length direction and fixed to be tied. When mooring in this manner, the string is looped by passing longitudinally through the tying hole 9 and then through the anchor slot 7, and is tied in the usual manner onto the existing anchor slot. To anchor the string by tightening, the string is passed longitudinally through the anchor slot 7, the screw 11 is tightened into the threaded hole 6, and the string 2 is inserted between the bottom of the hole 6 and the tip of the screw 11. This is shown in FIG. The threaded engagement portion between the screw 11 and the threaded anchor 6 is such that the anchor bolt 11 is inserted into the threaded anchor hole 3 due to the vibration of the string 2.
Designed to prevent it from coming loose.

To be implemented as described above, the bridge means comprises a string bridge 3, as shown in FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17, which is mounted between the string tuning block and the string anchor. Each string has a notch 16 located at the tip of a pointed member 17 as shown in FIG.
passed through. The bridge block 18 has one or two pointed members 17, depending on the number of strings used in the instrument, and a U-shaped support member 20.
are arranged side by side in the U-shaped channel portion 19. The stabilizing means preferably comprises a countersunk screw 21 which is screwed into the side wall 22 of the U-shaped support member 20 until it projects into the block 18. The stabilizing means is for preventing movement of the bridge in a direction perpendicular to the string and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the screw 21.

According to the invention, mooring and string adjustment means are provided for tension control of each string of the musical instrument. In this embodiment, a metal tuning block 23, shown generally in FIGS. 2 and 10, has a separate tuning channel 24 aligned with each string 2 of the instrument. Each tuning channel 24 has a first side wall 25 and a second side wall 26 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of each string 2 and aligned with each tuning channel 24 . The individual anchor means 27 are of longer longitudinal dimension than the longitudinal dimensions of the channels 24 and are slidably fitted in each channel 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the gap 44 formed between each anchor member and the side walls 25 and 26 of the channel is sufficiently narrow that the anchor member 27 can be moved longitudinally back and forth within the channel 24. It's designed not to wobble. Each anchor member 2
The end of each anchor member facing the string when the tuning ball 12 is seated in the channel 24 has a notch 28 shaped so that the tuning ball 12 can be inserted therein. The relative dimensions of the notch 28 and the tuning ball are selected such that the ball 12 can be firmly but easily slid laterally into the notch 28. Once inserted into the notch, the tuning ball 12 is held against rotation about the axis of the string. Notch 2
An exit slot 29 is formed at the end of each anchor member 27 with 8, which slot 29 allows the string to project out of the anchor member 27 without any hindrance, while the tuning ball 12 can be inserted into the cutout 28. Allow. When the tuning ball 12 fits into the notch 28, no part of the string comes into contact with the anchor member 27. This consists of a tuning ball 12 with a circumferential groove 13 and a string 2.
This is due to the location of the outlet slot 28 in the anchor member 27 relative to the anchor member 27. Although it is preferred to insert the ball laterally into the cutout 28, the cutout can also be configured for vertical insertion.

Tuning holes 30 for slidingly receiving tuning bolts 31 are aligned in the longitudinal direction of each anchor member 27.
extends parallel to. A screw hole 3 that engages with a tuning bolt 31 is provided at the end of the tuning hole 30 facing the notch 28.
2 is formed. The end of the threaded bolt 31 extending into the tuning hole 30 is wedge-shaped, as indicated by the numeral 33 in FIG. 11, to prevent the threaded bolt 31 from coming out through the threaded hole 32.
The diameter of the threaded hole 32 is smaller than the diameter of the tuning hole 30 and smaller than the diameter of the wedge-shaped end 33 of the threaded bolt 31.

The end of the threaded bolt 31 facing the wedge-shaped end extends through the rear wall 34 of the channel 24 of the tuning block and is secured to the tuning knob 35.
Knob 35 is preferably cylindrical and has a knurled outer cylindrical surface to provide a friction surface to facilitate manual tuning of the knob.

Preferably a spring 36 is provided in each channel 24 between each rear wall 34 of each channel 24 and each rear wall 37 of each anchor member 27 to bias the knob 35 against the rear wall 34 and to respectively channel 24
The maximum distance between the rear wall 34 and surface 37 of the anchor member 27 is maintained at any position of the anchor member 27 within. This ensures that the anchor member 27 tends to extend outwardly to the maximum extent permitted by the relative position of the bolt 31 within the articulation channel 30;
This facilitates sliding insertion or removal of the tuning ball 12.

According to the invention, the end of each second side wall 26 facing the string has a guideway 40, and the end of each second side wall 26 facing the string
The end of the wall 25 is provided with a ball stop surface 41.
In this embodiment, the guideway 40 is arranged such that the anchor means is connected to the channel 24 for receiving the tuning ball 12.
The anchor member 27 is formed to match the notch 28 in the anchor member 27 when the anchor member 27 is removed from the anchor member 27 . The shape of the guide path 40 is preferably semicircular as shown in FIG. When the tuning ball 12 should be inserted into the notch 28,
The anchor member 27 extends from the channel 24 and the guide path 40 is aligned with the notch 28 in the anchor member 27, and the tuning ball 12 is slid laterally into the notch 28 through the guide path 40 and into the first side wall 25. The facing ball stop surface 41 prevents further lateral insertion of the tuning ball 12. Guide route 40
This cooperation between the ball 12 and the notch 28 allows one-handed insertion of the ball 12. The ball stop surface 41 also facilitates one-handed insertion of the ball 2 by completely preventing lateral movement of the tuning ball 12 through the notch 28, as shown in FIGS. Guide path 40, tuning ball 12, notch 28, and ball stopping surface 41
It should now be clear how the two work together to make it possible to anchor the string without any help other than the tactile sense of the fingers of one hand.

Once the articulation ball 12 is inserted as described above, it is tethered. Once the tuning ball is moored, the string is tuned and held at the tuning position. Therefore,
The adjustment knob 35 moves the anchor member 27 to channel 2.
4 to create tension that produces the desired tone in the string.

The operation of the mooring and string tuning device of the present invention is as follows. In the case of a string with balls at both ends, the end with the smaller ball is inserted into the anchor slot 7 of the anchor plate 5 and pulled until the anchor ball 15 abuts against the mooring recess 10 of the anchor plate 5. . When the string is properly moored within the anchor board,
I can no longer touch the neck of the instrument. Tension is maintained on the string while the string is passed through the notch 16 in the bridge 3.
Knob 35 is rotated in a direction in which anchor member 27 moves away from rear wall 34 of channel 24 until notch 28 in anchor member 27 is aligned with guideway 40, and notch 28 is rotated enough to slidably receive tuning ball 12. It will be released.

The articulation knob 35 is then turned in a direction that draws the anchor member closer to the rear wall of the channel 24. The tuning knob 35 is pulled until the string produces the desired note. The distance between adjacent threads in the bolt 31 and the threaded hole 32 is selected to be sufficiently small to allow fine tuning of the string. Further, the diameter of the bolt 31 is sufficiently smaller than the diameter of the tuning knob 35.
5 is selected to facilitate fine tuning of the strings by manual adjustment.

In the embodiment with a ball at one end and no ball at the other end, the end of the string with the ball is anchored to the tuning block as described above. A string end without a tuning ball is moored in one of two ways. The free end of the string is passed through the tie-down hole 9 in the anchor plate 5, turned around, returned to the anchor slot 7, tied in the usual manner over the existing slot 7, and
This is shown in the figure.

A second means for anchoring the free end of the string is to screw the anchor hole 6 as shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the free end of the string is passed lengthwise through the anchor slot 7, the anchor screw 11 is tightened into the threaded hole 6, and the string is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the threaded anchor hole 6 and the bottom surface of the anchor bolt 11. Can be attached.

According to the invention, tuning each string by adjusting the tuning knob does not impart any torque to the string. Since any torque is not applied to the string during string adjustment, the life of the string is extended.

According to the invention, the mooring and tuning device achieves this minimum possible overall length of the string, so that the possible length of the instrument is minimized and the material required to make the instrument is minimized. Become. Additionally, shorter instruments are convenient to hold and play, and are easier to transport and store.

For any instrument, the amplitude length required to produce the desired sound is the length between the bridge of the instrument and the first fret of the neck. The length of the string required to secure the string beyond the bridge at one end and beyond the first fret at the other end constitutes the overhang length of the string. In the present invention, the overhang length of the string required for any amplitude length of the string is minimized.

As is known, the shorter the string overhang length, the better the tone produced by the instrument for any given note. Therefore, the present invention can improve the timbre of the sound produced by a string that is moored and tuned.

In embodiments of the invention for instruments with more than one string, the adjacent channels share side rails as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. In such embodiments, the first side rail of a channel also serves as the first side rail of the next adjacent channel. Also,
The second side rail of the channel serves as the second side rail of the next adjacent channel as shown in FIGS.

Another embodiment of the invention, which is suitable for use with multiple stringed instruments with relatively close pitch spacing,
Two or more anchor members are provided to slide within the same channel.

Although the following embodiment is hand-held in size, it is suitable for instruments with a large number of strings (this usually occurs with instruments with six or more strings), and the knob 35 is preferably has annular channels 42 separated by annular ribs 43, the annular ribs of one knob mating with the annular channels of the next adjacent knob, and the annular channels of one knob mating with the annular ribs of the next adjacent knob. This is shown in FIG. 12. The gap between the annular channel and the annular rib of the proximity knob is such that one knob can be turned by hand without causing rotation of the proximity knob. This embodiment is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

Screw hole anchor hole 6 and screw type anchor bolt 1
1 (FIG. 7) is preferably applied to thick strings. On the other hand, the embodiment of FIG. 8 which employs the anchor slot 7 and the tightening hole 9 can be suitably used for thin strings.

Means are provided for securing the articulation block 23 to the base 23. Preferably, such fastening means have a countersunk screw hole 39 through the block 23 to receive a screw for engagement with the base 38 of the instrument.

The string tuning device of the present invention can maintain a set tone over a long period of time with almost no deviation. Musical instruments can be carried over long distances without losing their tone. This is particularly advantageous for musicians.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a guitar according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the tuning block of the guitar of FIG.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a view of the anchor plate of the present invention seen from the side that engages with the head end of the string;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the anchor plate of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a side view of the anchor plate of the present invention showing the tightening holes aligned so as to accommodate strings and screws in the anchor holes, and FIG. 7 is a side view of the anchor plate of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a side view of the anchor plate of the present invention showing the anchor screw screwed into the anchor hole to grip the string; FIG. 8 is a side view of the anchor plate of the present invention showing the string looped and tied in the tightening hole; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 2, FIG. 11 is a step-by-step explanatory diagram of the insertion process shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a partial top view of a tuning knob for an instrument having six or more strings, FIG. 13 is a partial front view of the tuning knob of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, and FIG.
15 is a top view of the bridge shown in FIG. 14, FIG. 16 is a front view of the bridge shown in FIG. 14, and FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line 17-17 in FIG. 14. 1... Anka, 2... String, 3... Bridge, 4
... Tuning block, 5... Anchor plate, 6... Anchor hole, 7... Anchor slot, 12... Tuning ball, 13... Groove, 15... Anchor ball, 24...
... Channel, 27 ... Anchor member, 28 ... Notch, 31 ... Bolt, 35 ... Tuning knob, 40
...Guidance route.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A tuning ball is fixed to one end of each string, a fastening means is provided at the other end of each string, and a tuning block is mounted on the instrument in close proximity to one end of the string, and the tuning ball is fixed to one end of each string. The block forms a tuning channel for tuning each string, and a bridge means is disposed on the instrument between the tuning block and the fastening means, and a plurality of anchor members are provided, each anchor member having a means are provided slidably disposed within each articulation channel for controllably adjusting the position of each anchor member within said articulation channel to increase or decrease the tension in the strings of the instrument; a notch is formed in each end of the anchor member proximate one end of the string for dynamic insertion, the notch having an exit slot that allows the string to project through the end of the anchor member; Each of the tuning channels has first and second side walls facing each other, and one of these side walls has a guide path for laterally inserting a tuning ball for aligning the notch and the string. A tuning device for a stringed instrument, characterized in that the other side wall forms a stopper for restricting lateral movement of the tuning ball when inserted.