US2555388A

US2555388A - Attachment for stringed musical instruments

Info

Publication number: US2555388A
Application number: US143590A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert O Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-02-10
Filing date: 1950-02-10
Publication date: 1951-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1968-06-05

Description

June 5, 1951 o, ADAMS 2,555,388

ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l 39 lll'z'r'ntor A OBE/P7 0. ADA/15 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 508557 GAD/4H3 R O ADAMS ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS June 5, 1951 Filed Feb. 10, 1950 Patented June 5, 1951 OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Robert 0. Adams, Monte Vista, 0010.

Application February 10, 1950, Serial No. 143,590

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to an attachment: for stringed musical instruments and it .consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

4 Generally there .is provided an attachment "for stringed'musical instruments such .as, for example, guitars, and which comprises a unitary device which may beclamped to the neck .ofithe 'instrumentand which includes a set of "four keys which, when depressed activate selected levers which, in turn, carry in each case, a plurality of outwardly extendingmetallic fingers which are'bent insuch manner as to depress strings of the: instrument in the manner .manufacture and yet effectiveand efiicient in :use.

Another objectof .theinvention isthe provision of novel interchangeable levers having string-depressing fingers, both forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel keyboard forming a part of the invention.

A still further object of the invention is the provision, in a device of the character described, of novel means for mounting such device upon a musical instrument.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention shown mounted upon the neck of a guitar,

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the action of certain elements of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein an attachment for stringed musical instruments having a body comprising a base member ID to either end of which is afiixed an upstanding arm I I. Interconnecting the arms II approximately midway of their height is a cross arm I2 and a cross arm I3. The forward sides of the arms I I are curved inwardly, as indicated at I4, and the arms II are provided with a rearward upstanding portion I5 and a centrally located upstanding portion I6.

Afiixed in the upper ends of' the portions I 6, in each case is a semi-circular cradle I1 and a shaft I8 lies within the cradle "and is hollowed therein,at either end, by means of a substantially triangular yoke I9 to each of which yokes is afiixed a :dependant bracket member which brackets 20 may beinterconnected at their lower end and beneath the base I0.

Pivotally and interchangeably mounted upon the shaft I8 is a series of levers 2I, 22; 23, and 24 to the upper side of each of "which is affixed by means of solder 25 or like'means, in each case, a plurality of arms 26 preferably formed of metallicwire material and each bent into an irregular shape and each provided with a foot 2'! or with a plurality of feet 21a in certain instances.

The rearward ends of each of the'levers 2| to 24, inclusive is cut away as indicated at "28. A shaft 29 is revolubly mounted in suitable grooves formed-in the upper faces" of -'-the portions I5. Revolubly mounted upon the shaft 29 is a series of

keys

3I, 32, 33 and 34, the forward ends of which are adapted to engage the under sides of the levers 2I to 24, inclusive, respectively, within the cut away portions 28.

A hook engages the shaft 29 adjacent each end thereof and each of the hooks 30 is provided with a dependant shank 35 which extends through a bracket 36 afiixed to the outer face of the arm II and which has threaded upon the lower end thereof a nut 31.

Each of the keys 3I to 34, inclusive, is provided with a felt covering 38. To each of the yokes I9 there is affixed one end of an outwardly extending bolt 39 which extends through a resilient supporting arm 40 and which has threaded at the outer end thereof a wing nut 4|, a washer 42 being interposed between the nut M and the support 40. A felt matting 43 is interposed between the support 40 and the neck 44 of, for example, a guitar, which is provided with the customary six strings 45 and a felt matting 46 is interposed between the other side of the neck 44 and the curvular portion I4 of thearms II.

The underside of the forward end of each of 7 the keys 3| to 34, inclusive, is provided with an eye 41 which is interconnected by means of a tension spring 48 with an eye 49 affixed to the base HI and a compression spring 50 is inter posed between the forward underside of each of the levers 2| to 24, inclusive, and the cross bar 13.

In operation, it will be apparent that the feet 21 and 210. are adapted to engage the strings 45 at selected positions due tothe irregular shape of the arms 26, such positions being, of course, prearranged when the sets of levers 2| to 24, inclusive, are fabricated. Thus it will be seen that by pressing upon one of the keys 3| to 34, inclusive, at a time that various chords will automatically be fingered by the feet 21 and 21a in exactly the manner as they would be fingered by an expert player not utilizing this device. Again, it will be apparent that even though the user of the present device may have large or wide fingers that he may nevertheless be able to play a stringed instrument since the fingers of the operator only are utilized to press one of the keys 3| to 34, inclusive, at a time. It will also be apparent that a person having but one finger may still utilize the device. The device is quickly and easily clamped to the neck 44 of a stringed instrument by utilizing the support member 40 and the wine? nuts 4|.

Also, it will be seen that when the music being played calls for a different key than the particular set of levers 2| to 24, inclusive, which may be in the device at the time, that it is only necessary to remove the set and install a different set which may be arranged for the musical key desired.

Also, it will be seen that pressure downwardly upon any of the keys 3|, to 34, inclusive, will cause an upward movement of the rear end of the respective lever thus causing the forward end of such lever to move downwardly against the action of the spring 50 associated therewith and causing the feet 21 or 21a, as the case may be, to come into contact with the strings 45 in the desired manner and that, when pressure is relieved from the keys 3| to 34, inclusive, that the compression spring 50 will cause the forward end of the lever to rise thus causing the rearward end thereof to move the forward end of the associated key downwardly. This action is assisted by the tension spring 48 of that particular key.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, means for removably attaching the frame to the neck of a stringed musical instrument, an inner shaft carried by said frame in spaced parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of said neck, a plurality of horizontally aligned levers pivoted to said inner shaft, an outer shaft mounted on said frame in spaced parallel relationship to said inner shaft, a key for each of said levers, said keys being pivoted to said outer shaft in horizontal alignment, the inner end of each of said keys underlying the outer end of its associated lever, a tension spring interconnecting the underside of the inner end of each key with said frame, a compression spring interposed between the underside of the inner end of each of said levers and said frame, a plurality of irregularly shaped fingers aflixed to each of said levers and extending over the strings of said musical instrument, and feet carried at the free ends of said fingers and adapted to bear against selected portions of said springs when a lever is moved against the action of its compression spring by its associated key.

ROBERT O. ADAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 545,963 Ling Sept. 10, 1895 928,866 Hull July 20, 1909 2,183,579 Neal Dec. 19, 1939