US2488646A - Guitar - Google Patents

Description

Nav. 22, E94@ J. D. SUITE 2,4%@9646 GUITAR Filed March 4, 1949 Patented Nov. 2?,V 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv 6 Claims.

. This invention relates to guitars.

As is generally known, guitars, in common with other stringed instruments, require tuning prior to each number to be played, and while such operation may be accomplished in a relatively short period of time, it nevertheless causes interruptions during the playing of several numbers.

This disadvantage in single neck guitars has heretofore been appreciated and, in an eiiort to overcome same, three-neck guitars have been provided, whereby a player may shift from one set of strings to another between the playing of two numbers without any undue interruption, the three different sets of strings, of course, having previously been properly tuned.

The three-neck guitars heretofore used, however, have been awkward and difficult and tiring to handle, due to the necessity of manually supporting and moving same.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a guitar embodying an elongated body or neck which is pivotally supported on a horizontal axis for rotation thereon, the neck being provided with `a plurality of spaced sets of strings, whereby, upon rotation of the neck, one or another of the sets of strings can quickly and easily be brought into playing range.

A further object of the invention is to provide a guitar including an elongated neck provided with a plurality of sets of strings, and wherein the neck rotatably supported on a horizontal shaft embodied in a stand, there being simple releasable means for holding the neck against rotation when any one set of strings is in playing position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved guitar in accordance with a preferred structural embodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is a fragmental end elevation on a substantially enlarged sc-ale and sho-wing structure not feasible to show in Figure 1, due to its substantially smaller scale.

Figure 3 is a fragmental side elevation on a substantially enlarged scale and showing the neck or body retaining and releasing means shown in Figure 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I designates a frame or stand, which may be suitably formed from tubular or cylindrical stock and may be more or less ornamental within the dictates of the manufacturer.

The stand includes centrally disposed upright rods Il and I2 which support an axle I3 upon which the guitar neck I4 is rotatably supported.

As shown, the axle I3 is preferably extended at right angles from the rod I2 and intersects'and joins the rod I I below its upper end.

The neck I4 is of the cross-sectional form shown in Figure 2, and it includes three (more or less) plane faces I5, each of which supports a set of strings I8 which at its opposite ends is provided with the usual bridges and adjusting keys, indicated generally at I'I. The neck is preferably provided with an electro-magnetic pickup I8 for an electrical amplifier I9.

It is to be particularly noted that the neck bearing a plurality of sets of strings is wholly supported by the stand IU, and by having all sets of strings previously tuned, a number of pieces may be successively played by shifting from one to another set of strings without interruption by simply imparting a partial revolution to the neck I4 abouts its supporting axle I3.

It is, of course, necessary that the neck be maintained stationary during the playing of any one of the sets of strings which are uppermost in position, and while various means may be provided for such purpose, a satisfactory arrangement may include the following:

A disk 20 is supported at one end of the neck in coaxial relation to the axle I3, and such disk is provided with a plurality of recesses 2 I, one for each set of strings, and such recesses are preferably disposed in axes intersecting the faces I5 intermediate their side edges.

A plunger 22 is slidably disposed in rod II and is normally urged toward the disk 20 by -a leaf spring 23 suitably supported by the rod, and the free end of the plunger will yieldably engage a recess 2| when brought into its range, thereby to hold the neck in position with a set of strings in an upper horizontal position, as in Figure 2.

When it is desired to rotate the neck in order to bring another of the sets of strings into playing position, it is. of course, necessary to retract the plunger 22 against the action of spring 23, and it is preferable that such be capable of accomplishment either by hand or by foot. Accordingly, a hand-engageable lever 24 is pivotally supported by rod II above the plunger 22. The lower end of such lever is forked (Figure 2) and. receives the plunger and is engageable with a head 22', whereby, upon clockwise rotation of the lever, the plunger will be retracted.

At this point, it is to be noted that the outer end of the plunger may simply be provided with a. hand-engageable knob, but the lever is actuated by a `pull toward the player, which would be more convenient of operation. The plunger may be provided with a second head 22' spaced from the first head and the upper forked end of a lever 25 disposed between said heads and engageable with the second one for retracting the plunger.

The lever 25 is pivotally supported by rod Il and its lower end is provided with `a loop 26 disposed opposlte an aperture 21 in the rod "Il, whereby a suitable rod from a foot pedal may be connected to the lever 25 for foot-controlled retraction of the plunger.

It will be appreciated from the above disclosure that a `guitar is provided which embodies 'a plurality of separate sets of playing .string-s and that the `guitar requires no manual support and is capable of being easily and quickly adusted for the playing of any particular set of strings.

While I "have disclosed my `invention in ac cordanoe `with .a `single :specific structural embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only, :and not restrictive, the scope of the `invention .being `defined in the following claims.

What I :claim :and fdesire to secure 'by U. S. Letters Patent is:

l. .A guitar ystructure comprising .a stand including a `horizontally idisposed axle, land an elonmcd vneck lluearing :a plurality -of sets of strings rotatably :supported on `said axle.

f2. The structure according to claim l, where- 4 in said sets of strings are supported on ilat faces on 'the neck in spaced relation about the axis o! said axle.

3. The structure according to claim` 1, together with manually releasable means for normally retaining said neck against rotation on said axle.

4. A guitar structure comprising a stand including an upright rod at each end thereof, one rod being extended at right angles in the provision of `a horizontal 4axle whose Aopposite end is connected with the other rod below its upper end, an elongated neck rotatably supported on the axle, a disk connected to one end of the neck in co-axial relation to the axle and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses, a spring-pressed plunger in said other rod normally `engaged .in one of said recesses to maintain the neck against rotation on the axle, and a set of strings on the neck radially outward from each recess in the disk.

5. The structure Vaccording to claim 4, together with hand and foot-controllable Iplunger releasing means supported yluy-said other rod.

6. The structure according to 'claim 4, together with a hand-controlled plunger releasing lever p'i'votal'iy supported by said other rod above said plunger, and a foot-controlled plunger releasing lever pivotally supported by said other rod below said plunger.

JACK D. SUITE.

No references cited.

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